Elliott came to his mom with paper stars containing two symbols.
“What are these?” she asked.
“They say R S. They are prayer cards for Syrian refugees. I want to hand them out so people can pray for the refugees and then when they meet one, they can say, ‘Hey, come stay at my house.'”
When Elliott’s mom told me this story over the weekend, it affected me deeply. Yes, Elliott’s solution to the refugee crisis is simplistic.
Pray.
Meet.
Welcome.
Or is it simply that as adults we choose to complicate matters? Complicate them because we don’t want to be obedient to God’s call.
Jesus basically said what Elliott advised:
“I was a stranger and you took me in (Matthew 25:35)”
No background checks. No wondering about the inconvenience. No protecting my space or my sanctuary or my stuff or my alone time. Simply welcoming a stranger.
And when the people asked Jesus,
“When did we see You a stranger, and take You in?”
Jesus answered,
“To the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”
Elliott’s simplistic solution seems very much like the one Jesus says proves we are loving him.
When I asked Elliott’s mom if I could have pictures of the prayer card stars so I could blog about them, Elliott asked for my address so he could send me some actual stars.
I told him I would offer the stars on my blog. This was his message in return:
“Give directions and tell them that if they take a star, they either need to pray for a refugee, or help them live with them, or go help get them off of a boat safely.”
We can all pray. But maybe we can or even should be doing more.
Jesus’s brother James said this:
“If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:15–17)”
Maybe God wants the same things from us that Elliott does—to do justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
I can pray for the Syrian refugees using one of Elliott’s stars as a reminder.
I can’t say (yet) that I am going to invite refugees to live with me.
But maybe I can help them get off a boat safely by supporting organizations who are aiding the refugees, like Church World Service, Migrant Offshore Aid Station (these folks literally do try to help refugees get off the boat safely), CARE, or American Refugee Committee.
And as I keep praying, maybe God will open not only my heart but my home as well.
Carolyn Arends has a song that says, “I am willing to be willing, I am ready to be moved.” That is my prayer as well.
If you would like one of Elliott’s stars leave a comment and I’ll contact you for information on sending it. Just remember his directions.
This may shake up our lovely comfortable lives . . .
and it will be because a little child chose to lead us straight to the heart of God.
I am helping to organize support for a family from the Syrian conflict to come live in my community. We are a group of five churches from three denominations all working together on this initiative. Imagine that. 🙂 I would love to have one of Elliott’s stars. Please thank him for me, for loving as Jesus loves.
Thanks, Sharon! I’m excited that your part of this cool initiative that represents Christ so well. Please use the contact form to send me your address so I can send you a star when they arrive!
I would love one of those stars, Carol! This is beautiful.
Sarah, thanks for your comment and your desire for a star. Please use the contact form to send me your address so I can send you a star when they arrive!
Carol, Thank you for sharing. This is precious. My heart is torn because of the Isis treat. Elliot put my mind back on track. thank you. I would like a star. My book is called True Star Quality and one of my chapters is on prayer. I will pray for Elliot too.
Cherrilynn, thanks for your comment and your desire for a star. Please use the contact form to send me your address so I can send you a star when they arrive! And the one thing I keep telling myself is that my safety is not God’s highest priority. His act of love cost him his life. Hard to live out, though.
Carol,
This is so well written! I, too, was moved by this story this past weekend. Thanks for sharing it so widely! I am currently part of a welcome team from my church that is supporting a Syrian refugee family. They have been such a wonderful addition to my life! I wish I had more time to spend with them, but every time I do, I am blessed by this family!!!
Kris, that’s wonderful that you have the opportunity to interact with a Syrian family regularly! What a blessing! (And it was my honor to tell this story. I’m thankful Kim allowed me to do so.)
I want one! 🙂
Will get one to you, Lisa, as soon as I get them. Sounds like an excuse for a Panera date!