“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:30-31
Amanda DeWitt has lived in her home in Dallas, Texas, for just over a year. She has been working hard to find just the right furniture for each room. Last month, her sister sent her a link to a buffet being sold on Facebook Marketplace. It was just what Amanda had been searching for. She quickly contacted the seller, and Amanda purchased the furniture, a Louis XVI marble top buffet.
Because the furniture was so heavy, Amanda hired movers to bring the piece of furniture to her home. When it arrived, she guided them to the place in her house she had reserved for the buffet. It was perfect! She began to go through the cabinets, unlocking each one. When she unlocked the last door, she found something surprising. The previous owner had not emptied the contents. Amanda knew the contents were valuable dishes. Each piece of china was individually boxed. More than that, she knew they were most likely something the owner did not want to part with.
Amanda contacted the previous owner to inform her about the boxed china she found. The previous owner was shocked that she had forgotten to remove it from the buffet and was thankful for Amanda’s call. She and her husband rushed over to Amanda’s house to recover the plates.
Later, Amanda posted about this on social media. Many people said they would not have called. Amanda was shocked. When she was later interviewed, Amanda said, “I want people to remember to treat others as you want to be treated.” Amanda has great wisdom.
There are many essential things in our lives. Our home is so important. How we care for it is also important. However, the most important thing is how we show love towards others. Amanda was empathetic towards the person who misplaced her dishes. She went out of her way to make sure they were returned. Now she may enjoy her new furniture. Each time she looks at it she will be reminded of the most important things, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
