Keeping the light of Christ within is central to giving to other Orthodox. Helping and caring for others must be grounded in prayer so as to not diminish the light within ourselves and our families. Those with young children are especially giving at times, not realizing that the needy at church are adults. To have a Christ-like spirit in our home and for our children, we have to let God show us how to care for our fellow Orthodox so as not to diminish the sacred grace within the family. Prayer is a loving solution which increases Christ within yet enables us to listen for God\'s solutions. We had to find this balance as we cared for the sick in our home. Really poor and strange people can be mentally ill, cons, etc. and prayer helped us find better ways to obtain aid for those in need. In our parish, there are people with serious problems so I would say go with your hunch when you meet the \"weirdos\", be loving and pray, but keep the spiritual balance right in yourself and in your family. God\'s love can shine on those that \"we hate\" (or fear) through our prayers and that love transforms us too.
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