Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Challenge for Today

We do not wear our hearts on our sleeves. As a means of protection, pride or something else, we keep our wounds hidden.

But we all have them, especially these days in the midst of ahem 'jobless recovery'.

The good news is the bad times never last forever. We know this yet they can be so hard to get through.

One thing that helps is a random act of kindness.

You may or may not know someone who might need a friend right now. But I can promise you, you ran into someone that would love to sit and chat with you. To do something fun. There may even be someone who needs help putting food on the table next door.

So here's a challenge. Do something for someone. If a neighbor just lost a job, drop off a plate of cookies or invite her over for some coffee. Laugh and bring some joy into a rather grim mood. Better yet, have your neighbor for coffee and send her home with cookies because 'you just can't have those things around the house or you'll eat them all' ;)

(One note: Never ever act like you are doing something out of pity. Honestly, they'd rather have nothing than that!)

Maybe there's a mom you see a pre-school drop off that looks kind of sad. Invite her to a local coffee shop and treat her to a danish and your company. A conversation with a caring friend can brighten anyone's day!

If you home school and don't get to see many people, call an old friend to see how she is.

And if you are just too busy or your current needs are too great, do the best thing possible. pray for them! Keep a list by your bed and make sure to pray for their welfare every day. It will help more than you know!




5 comments:

Unknown said...

Love this post! I really needed it today.

Brian and Staci said...

Ohhh I love this challenge :) Just last week...when I made some homemade cinnamon rolls.....I sent some home with a good friend that has three little boys...I never thought it would mean THAT much to her....WOW!!! Little things are so great like that! Wish I was your neighbor...I'd look sad just so you might ask me to go to get a coffee (I don't even drink coffee :) hee heeee!!! You are so awesome Lisa!

Susan said...

That is a very nice post; I think I might just do something like that, hopefully soon. Today I called a neighbor "just to chat", since now that it is COLD up here... we won't see the neighbors until Spring. It was really nice to just chat.

Tyne said...

What a great idea, and a great way to keep my chin up in these times.

I am praying for you- thanks for the sweet comment you left on my blog. We sure do have a lot in common! In the midsts of these trials, we can trust on the Lord's goodness and sovereignty, and that our faith is being perfected!

CC said...

great reminder!!!