She grew up in a very wealthy family and was expected to enjoy a comfortable easy life. Instead she was unhappy at all the misery of the poor and sick around her. To the horror of her family, she spent her life helping better other people's lives.
The last paragraph of the book is very touching.
It would have been easy for Florence Nightingale to live a life of comfort. Instead, she lived as she believed she should, working hard to help others. Her determination to be useful became an example for the entire world.
Compared to most people in the world, I am also very rich. I have a Christian heritage, a stable marriage and home, church family and friends, the Bible, a home in Heaven, a relationship with God, a house to live in, food on the table, clothes to wear and so on.
Am I like Florence or the rest of her family? Do I just sit back and enjoy the comforts? Or do I care about others and their needs? Do I sacrifice my time, money, energy, talents etc. to help others physically and spiritually? Is it my desire to be useful or comfortable?
God didn't put me on this earth to enjoy myself and be comfortable. He put me here to serve Him and others. That takes sacrifice.
I am very thankful for all the blessings I have, and I do enjoy and appreciate them. But I don't want to be selfish and not care about people who don't have what I have. I can't help everybody, but I can share what I can with who I can, and God can bless it.
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
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