Without Cost

As Jesus sent the Twelve on their first experience of preaching and teaching on their own, he reminded them that without cost they had received and without cost they were to give.  Good advice for us today as we practice the "little things" that help us be effective missionaries in our own backyards.
A friend of mine comes once a week from a good distance to help a blind woman do her grocery shopping and get other errands done, as well as cleaning her house.  She does not count the cost of the drive, or of giving up her whole day.
Often, listening to someone might make us late for Mass or an appointment, but it is little cost compared to what good those minutes might do for the other person.  There is no way we can be faithful to Jesus, to our mission, if we start keeping a ledger on how much time, energy, or money we spend in helping others.  We have freely received, so freely must we give.
Bro. Rene