31 Oct, 2008
On a Whim, Woman Buys Foreclosed Home and Gives It Back to Owner
Photo courtesy of http://www.wlfi.com.
DALLAS - A
Then one of those strangers bought it back for her.
Now Tracy Orr can return to her Pottsboro home, making payments to the woman who unexpectedly and impulsively bought it for her.
"It means so much to all of us," Orr told
Marilyn Mock said she was acting on instinct on Saturday when she decided to buy a house she had never seen for a woman she had never met. Mock was at the foreclosure auction to help her 27-year-old son bid on a house when she struck up a conversation with Orr, who was crying about losing her home.
Orr had bought the house for $80,000 in 2004 but fell behind on the payments. She lost her job a month after taking out the loan, and earlier this year she lost the house. On the spot, Mock decided to buy it, eventually bidding $30,000.
"She didn't even know if I had a job or was a nut case," Orr said in a story for Wednesday's online edition of The Dallas Morning News. "She didn't even see a picture of the house."
Mock told a crying Orr she could stay in the house, making payments to her instead of a bank.
"She needed help. That was it," Mock told the newspaper. "I just happened to be there and anybody else would have done the same thing."
Orr said she hopes others will do as Mock did.
"More than my house, she gave me something inside, and that's more important than material or financial things," she said.
Good Samaritan Helps Out
Stranger buys house, gives it back.
Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us?
Love God. Love Others. Jesus tells us that all of the commandments are wrapped up in that kind of love. That's what an abiding relationship with Jesus is all about.
Check out the study notes from the Life Application Study Bible:
3 Principles About Loving Our Neighbor
- Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right.
- Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need.
- Love means acting to meet the person's need.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Loving God and loving others means we must be prepared to put that love into action. Are you? Spend some time today in prayer, asking God to show you anyone in your life who has seemed "hard to love." Ask God to prompt you when the chance to be a Good Samaritan arrives.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story, and our story to others?
Ask God to reveal someone to you today who might need help. Decide in advance to be the "Good Samaritan" who provides the help. Thank God immediately if He gives you such an opportunity.
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