By Evi Rodemann
I know Christmas is not here yet. But if you wanted to do something extraordinary, why not consider inviting a stranger into your home to provide him or her with some new friends, and then plan accordingly over the next few weeks?
Christmas can be life changing for people fleeing their countries and finding a home with us. According to the UN refugee commission, in 2015, 42.5 million people were refugees. Every minute, eight people flee their homes.
In Matthew 25:35 40, Jesus says, “’For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in’… The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.´”
Last Christmas, I did exactly this with my dad and youngest sister. Instead of joining family members, I opened my home, and together with my family members we welcomed five strangers: an Iranian lady, a homeless German, a depressed person, an Iranian refugee who had only been in the country for a few days, and someone new in Hamburg.
It was wild, wonderful, and heartwarming. We told stories and tears flowed. For us, it was not a huge deal. It was welcoming them into our home, hearts, and lives. We fed them, made them feel welcome, and gave them space to share their stories.
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