I gave blood yesterday. They had a blood drive at PWOC. I think I have only given blood once, maybe twice. I don't like it. I don't like needles.
The blood donor guy got up and announced what was going on and told all the restrictions of who could not give. He also told us that the soldiers here use the most amount of blood in the army--not surprising since we are the biggest army post. But it also has the biggest amount of people who are not eligible to give. Most of the people who have been to Germany and Korea can't give. And you have to be home from Iraq for a whole year before you can give-and some people leave again before that whole year is up! All of that, along with all of the illnesses or shots that have restrictions, means many people here can't give blood even if they want to.
I sure don't like the thought that my husband or my neighbor could need blood and not have it. I have none of those restrictions stopping me. Not liking to do it, being a chicken, or not having time are not good reasons. So after my class I spend about 45 minutes extra so I could stay and donate blood.
I was thinking about how if they have not had the drive right there and told so much about the need, I would not have done it. It made me think of all the things we ignore if it is not put right in our faces. Maybe it is a blood drive, maybe it is hungry kids in Africa, maybe it could be a lot of things. The one thing it made me think of most is Jesus.
So many people aren't Christians. Many of them grew up in Christian families, or have all the Christian beliefs but they just don't live the life. People don't want to think about what is going to happen to them if they die living that way. Some may even plan to change someday-later, before they die. Yeah, wouldn't it be nice if we knew we would live to be 90 for 100% certain? That is not the way things are. Things can change or end at any moment.
Witnessing to people is so important. And I am terrible at it. It is easy for me to live and hope people see my life and see Christ in it. It is easy for me to tell my neighbors that I go to church and even to invite their children and take them with us. My family knows how important my faith is to me. But I am not one who presents or preaches the gospel to people. I am truly not sure how to do that without scaring people off. I wish I was better at it. Because I think that it is one of those things that if some people heard more about maybe it would be a little harder for them to ignore it.
I think the blood drive yesterday served more purpose to me than to have me give blood that may save someone's life. It gave me a little wake up call that it is more important to help save someone's soul. I need to try harder to witness to people. Even to one person, whoever that person is that God puts in my path to witness to. My blood might be used to save a soldier's life. The man at the blood drive made sure I would know that. But Jesus's blood saved us all if we will accept it. I need to make sure that other people know that.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin. 1John 1:7
1 comment:
Hey Stef...glad you decided to donate blood. That's very thoughtful of you. I looked up the requirements for giving blood...and there's a lot of requirements to give! I'd like to give blood...but I think i'm under 110 pounds LOL...unless our scale is broke. We do need a new one! lol...Guess we'll have to get a new digital scale to see the "truth". Anyway...I never really saw it that way about saving someone's life ya know. You could save a soldier's life. You never know...Your prayers can save a soldier's life too!....Yeah witnessing is hard...but there will be times when God will let someone cross our path and we'll know that we have to witness to them. I've failed many times in that area. Once a girl that lives around here...came to use our phone and she was into some trouble or something but I didn't think about witnessing to her until she left. Anyway sometimes we miss it but we will catch on and get it right next time. You're right about Jesus' blood saving all who accept it. His blood is for all "types" of people. Someone can't get a transfusion without first accepting it...just like how people accept Jesus. It's simple. Did I forget to tell ya that I'm a heart donor? Yep....I gave my heart to Jesus a long time ago! lol....I saw that on a church sign around here once...it said, "Be a heart donor....Give your heart to Jesus". Anyway glad you donated blood...it must be a good feeling...kinda like the feeling when someone votes for the first time LOL...don't forget!
A.K.
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