Cross Cultural Contemplations

Sometimes I'm in amazement of our neighbors...and daily so thankful for what we have.  Most people in the USA would say that our things aren't very nice, as they are not new...but compared to many we know, we are SO well off. 

example #1: What Strength!
A young 9 month pregnant mother of 2, walked 5 city blocks in the bitter cold and howling winds to come next door and get presents for her children who wouldn't be getting anything otherwise.  She never presumed to ask me to come get her or take her home - they are just used to walking everywhere.  They not only walked the whole way, but organized all the donations we got next door while there were there!  Very humbled....I don't think if I was 9 months pregnant I would walk that far in the cold/wind for gifts or anything. 

example #2: winter snow
Since our roads and let alone the sidewalks are rarely cleaned off, people have to walk down the street...pregnant moms, mothers with several children, handicapped, etc... Right in the way of traffic!  To top it off, when cars go by, they spray the walkers with the slush/water. 

These incidents make me GRATEFUL for our blessed vehicles the Lord has bestowed on us and to have greater appreciation for the blessings God has given us.  It also serves to make me more compassionate towards those who do not. 

Cross Cultural Contemplations #1

1. Proverbs 10:15
   The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
   
   
2. Proverbs 13:7
   One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
3. Proverbs 13:8
   A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
   
   
4. Proverbs 13:23
   An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
   
   
5. Proverbs 14:20
   The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
   
   
6. Proverbs 14:31
   Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
   
   
7. Proverbs 17:5
   Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
8. Proverbs 18:23
   The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
   
   
9. Proverbs 19:1
   Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
   
   
10. Proverbs 19:4
    Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
    
    
11. Proverbs 19:7
    The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
    
    
12. Proverbs 19:17
    Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
    
    
13. Proverbs 19:22
    What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
    
    
14. Proverbs 20:13
    Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
    
    
15. Proverbs 21:13
    Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
    
    
16. Proverbs 21:17
    Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
    
    
17. Proverbs 22:2
    Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
    
    
18. Proverbs 22:7
    The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
    
    
19. Proverbs 22:9
    The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
    
    
20. Proverbs 22:16
    One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
    
    
21. Proverbs 22:22
    Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
    
    
22. Proverbs 23:21
    for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
    
    
23. Proverbs 28:3
    A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
    
    
24. Proverbs 28:6
    Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
    
    
25. Proverbs 28:8
    Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
26. Proverbs 28:11
    The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
    
    
27. Proverbs 28:27
    Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
    
    
28. Proverbs 29:7
    The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
    
    
29. Proverbs 29:13
    The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
    
    
30. Proverbs 29:14
    If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
    
    
31. Proverbs 30:9
    Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
    
    
32. Proverbs 30:14
    those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
    
    
33. Proverbs 31:9
    Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
    
    
34. Proverbs 31:20
    She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.