gracious circle

Tuesday June 4^th, 1 Kings 17: 22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"  24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."  At that time and place, a woman who had lost her husband and then lost her son, was without family and without hope.  Elijah lived with her, graciously received help from her and in return brought her hope. Help and Hope always seem to go hand in hand.  Elijah brought her the word of God which was hope.  Now in this story Elijah returns to her, her son.  The act brings her not only her son, but hope.  Bringing hope to the hopeless is a much needed ministry in our day and age.  Graciously receiving what others give and graciously giving to others is part of the process, doing it in the name of and in the calling by God is what completes this gracious circle.  What would it take to bring that kind of hope to someone in need in your community?