The above is Rembrandts painting Parable of the Good Samaritan. The full-size version can be seen here.
Most people know the meaning of Good Samaritan, but not all know that that actually came from the Bible. For those of you who know me, know I’m the last one to push my religious beliefs on anyone. So thats not what this is about. But…I do want to share the story behind it all.
The parable is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 25-37.On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
[found from here]
Thats one that has stayed with me since I was younger. Today anymore people seem to much in a hurry to stop & help out like that. I know things have changed since this was written, but how many times have you passed by on the other side of the road? Or pretended you didn’t see or hear someone that could have used your help? Maybe someday that person needing help will be you…you never know. I do realize that there are situations that it may not be best to stop & help ie. if you’re driving & you’re a mother w/ your kids in the car & someone else is broke down or something along those lines. Maybe you don’t feel safe stopping, but you could call for some help for that person. Nowadays it seems the majority have cell phones, whatever..go that route then. Or maybe its a different situation entirely. Say you live in apartment complex & in the apt above you the guy is beating on the woman night after night. Do you answer her cries for help?
I guess this topic crossed my mind in the first place because the holidays are coming along. And maybe its because I’m older & so much wiser [lol!] but giving is much more exciting than the receiving anymore. I do remember the days where I sat & compared what my gifts must have cost against so & so’s…. now I’m just thankful that we have enough money to spoil my lil guy just a bit & realize that there are those kids who won’t be getting anything this year. I know there are those Christmas trees you can draw a person etc, but thats not the only thing you can do. Maybe you know a family that could use a lil help….they don’t always have to know its from you, besides that makes things more interesting. Like say for instance you could buy a gift card from somewhere, stick it in an envelope & leave it in their mailbox. Most years is tight moneywise for us & it seems as if we’re always out doing last minute shopping. But this year we’ve been blessed [not that we're wealthy by any means] but I think its time to give back a lil 
