Jesusluvsall's Blog

At the base of the Statue of Liberty we find these words:

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Knowing many people who came to America as refugees has given me a whole new appreciation for those words. The Statue of Liberty represents freedom and hope. Part of our heritage as Americans is the welcoming of the oppressed to come here to be free. Yes there have always been those who do not wish to welcome the oppressed, but as a country that is part of our heritage.

It is fitting we do so because unless we are Native American we are all descendants of people who immigrated here. For example if we are Irish, then our ancestors came here fleeing the famine and death in Ireland in the 1800s. The list could go on and on regarding our ancestors and what they fled to come to America. Think about the fact that many of our ancestors had to come here by boat over the ocean. The famous Pilgrims came on the Mayflower and many of them died on the way because of the conditions in the boat.

God has blessed me to reach out to and become friends with refugees living in my city. It is so much fun to get to know them and their cultures. They have diverse languages, cultures, and religions, but they all have one thing in common, they all came here fleeing danger and hoping for a new life. They all hope their children can grow up free from oppression.

When I think about the Statue of Liberty standing as a beacon to the world, I think of someone who said:

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus spoke those words inviting all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. His arms are open wide to receive anyone who will believe in Him and come to Him.

One more thought is that Jesus himself was a refugee as an infant and small child when he was on earth. The angel warned Joseph in a dream to take Mary and baby Jesus and flee because King Herod had sent his soldiers to kill Jesus. Joseph took them to Egypt where they lived until Herod died.

So since Jesus says come to Him all who are weary and burdened and Jesus Himself was a refugee, what should our attitude as Christians be toward the refugees seeking to come here and after they arrive?