Fruit of the Spirit Pt. 2 - Week 4, Day 3

Day 3: Lifetime Supply (Compassion)

In 1975, a child named Raymond Dunn, Jr. was born in the state of New York. The Associated Press reported that a skull fracture and oxygen deprivation caused severe retardation at his birth. As Raymond grew, his family discovered further problems. His twisted body suffered up to twenty seizures per day. He was blind, mute, and unable to move. Raymond also had severe allergies that limited him to only one food: a meat-based formula for babies made by Gerber Foods.

In 1985 Gerber stopped making the formula on which Raymond lived. His mother, Carol, searched the country to find any stock that stores had left, buying cases and cases. In 1990, sadly her supply ran out. In desperation, she appealed to the Gerber Corporation for help. Without this particular food, Raymond would starve to death. In an unprecedented action, employees volunteered and donated hundreds of hours to obtain special approval from the USDA to bring out old equipment, set up production lines, and produce the formula – all for one special boy.

In January, 1995, Raymond Dunn, Jr., known as the Gerber boy, died from his physical ailments. In his brief lifetime, Raymond had received an unusual gift of compassion from a special group of people.

Read Acts 2:42-47.

Compassion and genuine care were characteristics of the early church. “They gave to anyone as he had need.” Too many people today are in it for themselves. They rarely think of others but as Christians, we are to live our lives differently. How can you show more compassion for those around you? Is there someone at school that others tease that you could befriend? Is there a handicapped student at your school who could use some help between classes?

Time out:

Jesus said that you and I are the light of the world. He tells us to let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

What do you think this verse means?

We can always come up with an excuse for why we don’t do the right thing. What are some excuses people use when they see a need and then they ignore the need?

We have become so numb to the evil in our world and to human suffering that it hardly phases us anymore. We see ads on TV showing people who are starving to death, and our response is to continue to eat our popcorn and wait for the next commercial. We might stop for a second and think someone ought to do something about that, but it never enters our mind that maybe that somebody is us. What are some needs that are around you that you choose to ignore?

What are you going to do about those needs now?