I was inspired by the following story. An old man collapsed on a Brooklyn, N.Y., street and was taken to Kings County Hospital. The hospital staff looked in the man’s wallet and deciphered what appeared to be the name and address of a marine, who appeared to be his son.

The marine arrived at the hospital and when he entered the room, the old man reached out his hand. The marine took it and held it for the next four hours until the man died.

After the man passed away, the marine asked who the man was. The nurse said, “Wasn’t that your father?” “No,” said the marine, “but I thought he needed a son, so I stayed.”

Hearing this story, we have to ask ourselves, “How far are we willing to inconvenience ourselves for a stranger?”

We should be motivated by the fact that we claim that God is our Father. If that is so, then we are all God’s children, which make us all brothers and sisters.

That is why we are told in Deuteronomy to “Befriend the alien.” That “alien” is your brother or sister!

God bless.