8月4日，華裔移民基督徒關惠群與其他12位得獎人在白宮接受了奧巴馬頒發的2010年美國總統公民獎章，得以表彰他們無私的服務。公民獎創始於1969年，表揚為國家或國民從事無私服務的人士，是總統頒發的最高獎項之一。
奧巴馬稱讚獲獎的無名英雄們人道及無私的奉獻。他說，這個獎不是申請的，而是全國各界人士推薦的，「我們只有互相關照、提攜，才能共同邁步向前」。他強調這就是美國精神.....
關惠群表示，小時候村裏有一個教堂，父母是虔誠的基督徒。她父親是受西方教育的牙醫，母親是醫師。她曾經說過，自小有助人的觀念，是來自基督徒父母的教訓。
年幼時，她經歷了文化大革命，受過極大的傷害。在這24年來，她默默活出愛與關懷，默默地接濟窮苦的人們。她用自己擔任半職公立學校遊樂場管理員的薪水，濟助數百名無家可歸者。
最初，關惠群默默地開車到處尋找那些躲在橋下、鐵路邊、甚至灌木叢中的無家可歸者，為他們免費提供食物。這些人大多是精神病患者、精神受打擊的退伍軍人、離家出走的青少年、濫用藥物者等。她從事這樣的服侍有15年之久。2006年9月，她在多方協助下籌足美金40,000元，她買了一輛有保溫設備的藍色小卡車，符合美國商業衞生標準去服侍人。
關惠群的善行並不止這些。在送飯時，她也去了解這些無家可歸者，嘗試用各種方式幫助他們。她幫助生了小孩的青少年搬入政府提供的住處。她幫助精神受打擊的退伍軍人與家人聯絡上。她也幫助一個無家可歸者買了一個打草機，並幫他介紹生意，終於使他自立。
(資料來源：基督徒週報)
I am so touched by the life example as testified by Betty who receives the Presidential Citizens Medal from the hand of American President Obama few days ago.
回覆刪除In my mind, a simple question comes out. What motivates Betty to take care of those homeless, weakest and lonely people in the local community. In our daily life, we are sure that we have met lots of those poor people on the street. But, have we thought of them and make any positive step and little action to help them. Well, we may think about these issues are all within the mandatory responsibilities taken by social security agencies or government subsidised bodies. We know and well understand this is the right answer but, does it means that we own no more duties or debts of care for them....
Perhaps, what Betty has done is much more than she needs to do as a single citizen. She in fact has done much more than her role should be. In the life journey of over 24 years, she has helped thousands of poor people in the midst of hunger, desperate helpless and hopeless situation, sleeping, wandering and struggling on the street. Betty obviously has handed to them thousands of boxes of food, drink, clothing etc... However, do we see what quality of life she is exhibiting and living in front of all people surrounding her, now also before us via the internet. What she does in fact has motivated ad encouraged many people to follow her example and support many of those disadvantageous together.
We do not overlook all those working and supporting Betty behind the scene in all those charitable tasks physically and financially. However, we really recognise how Betty makes her best effort and done her best to help and take care of the poor around her over such long period of time without asking for any rewards back. She just pours out her love straight from her heart.
From the news, we may not find where this pure love comes from and how she has the lasting resources and sustainable energy to carry on such formidable, resources extensive mission for the helpless and homeless people .....
As a Christian, we know the power and source of love is from God as the God tells us: “God is love and we love because God loves us first.” Betty is a devoted faithful Christian in God.
約 翰 一 書 1 John
4:7 My loved ones, let us have love for one another: because love is of God, and everyone who has love is a child of God and has knowledge of God.
4:8 He who has no love has no knowledge of God, because God is love.
4:19 We have the power of loving, because he first had love for us.
4:7 親 愛 的 弟 兄 阿 、 我 們 應 當 彼 此 相 愛 ． 因 為 愛 是 從 神 來 的 ． 凡 有 愛 心 的 、 都 是 由 神 而 生 、 並 且 認 識 神 。
4:8 沒 有 愛 心 的 、 就 不 認 識 神 ． 因 為 神 就 是 愛 。
4:19 我 們 愛 、 因 為 神 先 愛 我 們 。
Peter
她年幼時，她經歷了文化大革命，受過極大的傷害，小時侯曾流浪街頭。故一些困苦的經歷，使她更知道貧困的人是需要幫助的。由於神的愛的激勵，便學懂去愛。
回覆刪除Arthur