Nobody knows you when you’re down and out
When my Dad was suffering from “terminal kidney failure”, back in the 80’s, I remember something he told me more than once. “When things go very bad, you’ll find out who your true friends are. And most people will be able to count, on one hand, how many friends show up for their funeral.” I was over 30 years younger then, and I thought that sounded overly morbid and sad because I had plenty of friends. However, I discovered his words to be truer than I figured. And I didn’t have to wait for my funeral. Nobody knows you when things aren’t going well. Rod Stewart even sang about it.
“But oh just as soon
As my money got low
I couldn’t find nobody
And I had no place to go
And if I ever get my hands
On a dollar again
I’m gonna hold on
Till the eagle wins” ~songwriter Jimmy Cox
There are exceptions to every rule.
And the rule of nobody knows you when you’re down and out has exceptions, too. Like Jeremiah Thomas for example. The young man who recently lost his battle with cancer. But you’ll almost always see lots of people rally around a teenager, or small child, when things like that happen. And you’ll almost always see a big funeral or memorial service for them, too.
But I’m talking about the average Joe or Jane Schmoe. The people who live typical lives, grow old, experience the tribulations of life, and suffer something that takes them down. Most of those people will discover they don’t have many true friends once things aren’t going so well.
It doesn’t even have to be a death thing. Like the song said, it can even be about money. Nobody knows you when you’re down and out. Busted. Broke. Have you ever experienced that? If so, I hope you took that experience to heart and learned a valuable lesson from it. And the way you turn it around is to rely on the Two Commandments. You know what those are, right? “You shall love the Lord with all your heart…” and…”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Would you ignore your own needs?
Of course not. So, why would you ignore the needs of others when they’re down and out? Or discouraged? Or confused, sick, broke, or suffering from something they’re not even sharing?
It’s important for all of us to remember we’re not the king or queen. No way. No how. And it’s even more important to know and understand who IS King. King of all kings. Creator of Heaven and Earth. The one who died on a cross for you and me. The one who might have thought to Himself, as He felt even the forsaking of His Father, “nobody knows you when you’re down and out.”
Just something else to think about in your busy day.
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