Voice of Ukraine

From Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv: The night is coming.

Do they say that in times of darkness and crisis every man for himself? That’s not true for Ukraine and Ukrainians. Today one of FB friends asked me, “How are most people making it financially with not working? I think of most people that live paycheck to paycheck.”

I answered with a few examples on FB under that question but I kept thinking that we are making it together exactly because in this time of trials we are not “every man for himself”, we watch out and help each other.

• Our government asked businesses to pay people’s salaries if at all possible and many businesses do.
• A lot of businesses are donating things that have in storage, like diapers, baby formula, etc. Restaurants are cooking and delivering meals to our defenders on front lines and to hospitals. Some restaurants have set hours where they welcome people in need to have a free meal.
• Neighbors and friends keep asking each other, how I can help you.
• Churches and volunteer centers are offering food and supplies to those in need.
• Even in grocery stores people watch out for each other. It will not be uncommon for someone in a supermarket to offer to pay for groceries of an elderly person.
• People are really proactively looking for ways to help each other.

Our greatest strength is in unity and in helping each other through these difficult times.

A friend, Nancy Miller, sent me today and encouraging email with this parable:
“There is an old folk tale, with a challenge to fill a large barn. The person who manages to most completely fill the barn in one night, is the victor. Many attempts are made, over many different nights – each person using wheat, hay, straw, apples… all manner of material wealth in an effort to win the kingdom. Lastly, a man comes with a lantern, and fills the barn to every corner with light. He wins the kingdom. So it is with Ukraine. You are overcoming, and will overcome, darkness with light, evil with good.”

May it be so! May all this suffering help Ukrainians transform in our hearts, become less selfish, more compassionate and kind not just in times of crisis but in good times. Let’s fill our land with God’s light!

Matthew 25:34-40
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

(Photos in this post – Uman church sent some food to Kyiv church for distributing to people in need in Kyiv)