Lost Sheep, Mary and Joseph, and James 2

There were lost sheep at church tonight. One lost sheep in particular caught my eye and my heart. She was crying pitifully, caught in her own set of brambles, feeling lost and alone, tired and frightened, with no where to go; no shelter or food for the night. My heart goes out to lost sheep. I was one once myself. I know what it feels like. I wanted to help. All I knew to do was hold her and pray. As I prayed, God reminded me of Mary and Joseph needing a room at the inn and finding none, and James 2:15-17: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action is dead". Praying was good, but it wasn't enough. I wanted to offer this sheep my home, my bed, my shower, my food. Before I could ask my husband if this would be okay, this homeless sheep and her fiance slipped out the door and were gone. I know there are people who would question my sanity for wanting to invite a total stranger (and her fiance)into our home for the night, but all I could see were a homeless Mary and Joseph. Lost sheep slipped into the night and I didn't go find them.