article from APRIL-MAY 2009
Your Time
Life’s Greatest Gift
How great is your love toward your family and friends? Does it inspire you to serve their needs?
By Michael H. Venish
In the winter of the mid- to late 1800s, a family named de Beer was traveling in a wagon from the Orange Free State to the southeastern Transvaal in South Africa.
Source: Getty Images
The young couple had two children, a six-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter, Rachel. Along with their wagon was a small herd of cattle, as well as some sheep and goats. The de Beer family was not wealthy, but was hardworking and determined to buy their own farm.
Along the way, they stopped at a farm owned by a man with the same last name, Herman de Beer. He gave them lodging in a vacant cottage on his farm, allowing the family time to scout the surrounding area for land they could purchase.
A few days after their arrival, the first bad winter storm rolled in from the southeast, bringing ice-cold wind and driving rain.
Everyone on the farm frantically rushed to bring the various livestock into protected enclosures. The young de Beers had only a few animals. They could not afford to lose any of them.
When the animals were counted, the couple noticed that a cow and her calf were missing. The children were fond of the calf, which they had named Frikkie.
The father and one of his servants decided to look for the animals in the storm. Rachel was asked to search the area around the cottage. Her brother, who did not want to be left out of the search for Frikkie, begged his mother to allow him to help. Dressed warm against the cold winter wind, the children began their search.
It was after dark when the father and his servant returned, but the children were still outside. In the meantime, the storm intensified and the falling snow turned to ice.
The men quickly organized a search for the children and went into the dark. Mrs. de Beer built a signal fire near the house, hoping that her children would see it. As the search continued through the night, the servants shouted and Mr. de Beer occasionally shot off his rifle, but without success.
After the wind and snow stopped, the mother joined the search. Her hope of finding the children alive in the freezing weather had long begun to wane. She knew that unless they found shelter, the siblings would perish.
Around dawn, they crested a knoll and looked across a veld (field). The mother saw what looked like a tiny body curled against a mound of snow. She ran down the slope, shouting the children’s names. As she drew closer, she saw that it was her daughter—Rachel de Beer was dead! She was naked, with only her homemade leather shoes on her feet.
The mound was a snow-covered termite hill. When they removed Rachel from the entrance of the mound, they found her younger sibling inside, covered with his sister’s clothes, her hat on his head.
By concealing her brother from the cold, she had saved his life.
No Greater Love
The Bible teaches us that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:13). Rachel de Beer literally did this for her brother.
What can we learn from this story of love and heroism? How do we lay down our lives for our family and friends? How do we apply the lessons in this story?
Rachel saw a need and responded. Her little brother was cold. He needed help. By forfeiting her comfort—her needs—she hollowed out a termite hill, put her clothes on her brother, placed him inside and closed the entrance with her body. She saved her brother’s life by sacrificing her own.
In his epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul teaches us how to respond to the needs of others. He explains that we must have the right attitude and frame of mind, “Let nothing be done through strife [selfish ambition] or vain [conceit] glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:3-4).
We have to look beyond the natural inclination to self-centeredness and vanity of our human mind. We must look outward and focus on the needs of others. Instead of arguing with the requests of parents, teachers and those in authority, or ignoring another’s obvious need, we should ask, “How can I help? What can I do?”
One of the greatest gifts we can give to family and friends is our time. Each moment is part of your life. Time means work, work equals service, and service means giving!
Look at your house, your garage, your yard. What are the needs—what needs your time? It takes time to mow the lawn, wash the dishes, take out the trash, wash the car, vacuum the carpets, mop the floors, and do the laundry. Does this all sound like work? Of course! But it is not life-threatening!
These tasks do not require your life. But, by giving your time in service, you have applied what the apostle Paul taught in Philippians 2:3-4.
It is at this time of year, the Passover season, that we are reminded of the love that God the Father has for mankind. He gave His Son (John 3:16). Jesus willingly gave up His life. Notice what He said: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 3:16).
Rachel de Beer laid down her life for her brother. You and I have a greater opportunity to lay down our lives—as “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1-2). We should gladly give part of our lives—our time—in service to the needs of family and friends.