【双语灵修】孤儿的父

以赛亚书 1:17

“学习行善，寻求公平，解救受欺压的，给孤儿申冤，为寡妇辨屈。”

6月5日

孤儿的父

“‘学习行善，寻求公平，解救受欺压的，给孤儿申冤，为寡妇辨屈。’” -赛 1:17

2004年1月1日，我们的邻居布伦达·史密斯在夜间回家途中遭枪击，我目睹了后续事件的发展。当时我在罗斯兰基督教事工实习，与同工和朋友史蒂夫·特纳住在教会附近。我们很快得知布伦达的三个孩子——两名少女和一名10岁男孩——独自在家，无人照料。

《圣经》呼召我们看顾孤儿寡妇，史蒂夫活出了这一教导。他主动照顾这些孩子，联系亲属、社工，定时开车送他们去医院探望昏迷四个月的母亲。这期间，孩子们每周四晚在我们家吃饭。史蒂夫确保他们有足够日用品，还为最小的文森特理发，在患难中为他们提供稳定的支持。

史蒂夫并非血亲，却成了这些孩子的保护者。如今已为父亲的文森特仍常联系他，见证了史蒂夫持久的关爱对他们的影响。史蒂夫的怜悯之心改变了这个家庭，他在最需要的时刻如父亲般挺身而出，成为了真正的守护者，彰显了神对孤儿、被弃者和弱势群体的心意。

祷告

主啊，感谢你兴起守护者扶持非亲非故的孩子。求你以怜悯和力量充满他们，让他们在养育与引导年轻一代中彰显你的爱。阿们。

Isaiah 1:17

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

A FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”—Isaiah 1:17

On January 1, 2004, our neighbor Brenda Smith was shot four times while walking home at night, and I witnessed the aftermath. At that time I was an intern at Roseland Christian Ministries, and I was living near the church with my coworker and friend, Steve Turner. We soon learned that Brenda’s three children—two teenage girls and a 10-year-old boy—were home alone, without family support.

The Bible calls us to care for widows and orphans, and Steve exemplified this teaching. He took it on himself to care for the children, reaching out to relatives and case workers, regularly driving the kids to the hospital where their mom lay in a coma for four months. During that time the children ate at our dinner table four nights a week. Steve made sure they had groceries, and he gave the youngest, Vincent, haircuts, offering stability during their time of need.

Steve wasn’t a blood relative, but he became a protector to these children. Vincent, now grown and a father himself, still calls Steve regularly, a testament to the lasting impact of his care. Steve’s compassion made a difference in that family, stepping in as a father figure when that was needed most. He became a true advocate, reflecting God's heart for the orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable.

Lord, thank you for advocates who help to support children not their own. Fill them with compassion and strength, reflecting your love as they nurture and guide young ones in need. Amen.