Share your tablecloths

Two churches once sat unified together. One actually built and financed the other. They were blissful sisters. They sit a mere 15 minutes a part from one another. Over time the 2 churches have had blessing in increase of membership. Combined they have almost 400 Christians in 2 small communities. As their numbers grew...so did their distance from each other. The older Christians can't tell you why they grew apart, they just know it happened. The two now speak of each other as "separate" churches....no longer sisters. It is as if they went through a divorce....they share a past, but no desire for a future together.
It happened one day that the preacher's daughter from one church was getting married and was planning her wedding shower. She wanted to borrow the tablecloths from the other church for her shower. So the call was put in to a deacon's wife and the request was made. The answer they got back was the saddest of all. The deacon's wife replied simply, " No. We don't loan them out to anyone because the elders paid way to much money for them." And that was that...and the distance grew further....
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Gal 6:10
Isn't it so sad that they missed it? They missed the chance to do good. They missed the chance to extend the hand of grace. They missed the chance to rejoice with fellow believers. They missed the chance to show neighborly love and kindness. They missed the chance to start bridging the gap...all over some material possessions that years from now will be thrown out to the garbage or eaten by moths.
It seems so silly doesn't it? But how often have we missed that very point? How often have we missed a chance to show God's love over something small? Opportunities don't always come in earth shattering moments, sometimes they come in very small, quick moments. Christ tells us to be watchful, but sometimes in our busyness we forget. So make a mental note to slow down...be still. Opportunities are everywhere. Seize them and share your tablecloths.