Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
On our visit to Amsterdam, my wife, Jenni, and our my daughter, Sophie and our son-in-law, Peter, had the privilege of visiting the Anne Frank House.
Anne and her Jewish family hid there for about two years during the second world war, and were found out. Ultimately, all but the father came to an untimely demise in the concentration camps.
The tour of the house features lessons learned from Anne’s diary. This excerpt struck me today. It’s a poem penned by this amazing young girl.
“Once again St. Nicholas Day.
Has even come to our hideaway;
Our Lady of Peace Chapel on Xavier University’s campus
It won’t be quite as fun, I fear,
As the happy day we had last year.
Then we were hopeful, no reason to doubt
That optimism would win the bout,
And by the time this year came round,
We’d all be free, and safe and sound.
Still, let’s not forget it’s St. Nicholas Day,
Though we’ve nothing left to give away.
We’ll have to find something else to do:
So everyone please look in their shoe!?”
Anne Frank (1929-1945) in The Diary of a Young Girl/
Notice that even when they had nothing left to give away, she noticed that they could find something else to do. They need only look in their shoe.
This implies that when our resources are exhausted, we can keep using the skills and abilities, our gifts and talents, to bless others.
Not sure how to give today. Anne would say, look in your shoes. This echoes the wisdom of Proverbs. When we have the power to do good, we must do it.
Here’s what God is teaching me in real time: to give people grace. Our flight was cancelled in Amsterdam yesterday. I saw a lot of frustration. But learned that when I give grace, God gives more grace.
We got re-touted to Munich, where we spent the night. Today we fly to London Heathrow in the morning and then direct to Denver (hopefully) in the afternoon.
Give us more grace as we look in our shoes, Lord.