01 Dec “Others”
William Booth is not a name most people recognize. He was a prominent Methodist evangelist living in mid-19th century London, England. One cold night as he returned home from a service, he noticed the poor and homeless sleeping under the London Bridge and was overcome with compassion for them. He decided at that moment that he had to do something to help them, and The Salvation Army was born.
In 1865, he and his wife Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society in London, and “Food for the Millions” soup kitchens, which fed large bowls of soup and bread to the poor. They established lodging houses to shelter the homeless from the bitter winters.
Christmas was always the most demanding time of the year and everyone needed extra help and encouragement. Because of this, General Booth would send a telegram each Christmas Eve to his weary soldiers all over the world, to encourage them in their work.
In what would be his last Christmas, he composed a paragraph of heartfelt words to inspire his troops, but then realized the cost of sending it would be too much. He edited the paragraph into three sentences, then one sentence, then three words—and realized even that would be too many.
Finally, he decided to send only one word…one word that would continue to inspire his army to win souls, feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.
That word was simply, “Others.”
This Christmas season remember that Christ came to dwell in your heart and in the hearts of people. Allow Him to dwell in you and live through you—and let this Christmas be an “others-minded” Christmas!
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