July 22, 2008
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Serious Tuesday
Quickly: Rissy has a slight middle ear infection. Her appointment was at 1pm on Monday. The doc. said there were little flecks of foreign matter (almost like pepper) she could see in her ear (I’m wondering about the mud puddle they played in???). She prescribed ear drop antibiotics and Rissy woke up this morning remarkably better. Jesse is staying home today and I think the girls will actually get their pool set up, except Rissy has to keep her head above water. After yesterday’s doctor’s appointment, we went to (guess where???!!!) Wal-Mart to fill the prescription; AND, I grabbed a ton of fabric softener and bleach, as well as 4 tubs of sherbet and ice cream. I mean . . . what are you going to do in Wal-Mart for 30 minutes while a prescription is filled???? LOL
Jesse just said he was taking the girls to the movies this afternoon. The water will have to warm up in the pool and he wants me to have a day of “quiet” – yay! You rock, Jesse!
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Now for the serious part . . .
There are several bloggy friends who are going through some hard times. There are others I know of who are not bloggers, but going through periods of depression or loneliness.
What I want to write about today is about slowing down our lives enough to NOTICE and DO something for those people who have needs. They may not need anything tangible, but they may just need to know someone cares and that they are not completely alone.
Most of my subscribers are Christians, so I am directing this message to YOU. We are to care for the brethren. We are to care for each member . . . be it a “fingernail or an arm” . . . because each is important within the body of Christ.
I think all of us (especially those of us with children) become embroiled in our own little worlds and routines and forget to look around. Or, maybe we DO look around and think we don’t have time to encourage someone.
Maybe we shy away from someone “needy” or “in pain” because we don’t know WHAT to do. Or, we don’t know WHAT to say. Rather than embarrass ourself, or be made to feel inadequate – WE DO NOTHING.
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! This is so very WRONG and not Biblical!
I can tell you from the times in my life that I’ve been at the lowest points, I’ve needed two basic things: 1) someone to talk to – not give me solutions, but listen to me vent, and 2) people to call me and say they were thinking of me and just wanted to call to say hello.
Wow! How simple is listening or calling to say hello????? I mean, REALLY????
Sending a card to say you are praying for someone or they have been on your mind is a huge surprise and so uplifting to someone who is down in the dumps . . . is that hard for us to do???? We even have the option of email messages these days. How many of us take the time?
People need to know they are missed. People need to know someone thinks they are special. People need to know that if they died, they wouldn’t lie there for a week before a neighbor noticed no activity at their house or the grass grew so tall the sheriff’s office showed up.
How many people wake up every day and wonder why or what purpose their life serves? How many people believe if they DID call a friend to vent, the friend probably wouldn’t understand or want to hear their story? If we don’t tell them we care, how will they know? If we don’t ask questions, how will they feel free to speak to us from their heart? How can we minister to those who feel isolated and misunderstood???
How many people have suffered a loss (baby, job, grandparent, spouse, teen leaving for college, moving to a new state with no friends or relatives nearby . . . ) and appear to be handling things really well???? Lots of people don’t want to be a burden to others. They put on a “happy face” and a “false front” so as not to bore people with their problems. They figure no one really cares, or they would ask how they are doing. That doesn’t lessen their pain. In fact, it makes them more isolated.
I would like to encourage all of you TODAY to think of someone (the more people, the better) that would be uplifted by some attention from a person who cares. A visit. A phone call. Taking a baked good or dinner to a family. Mail a card or note. An email.
Do SOME-thing . . .
ANY-thing
to show you cared enough to stop, within your busy life, to extend friendship and love to someone in need.
I have a wonderful friend (you know who you are) who sends handwritten notes. She dates them. I have saved every single one of her notes in a memory box (as well as notes from others). She makes my upside down world turn around when I receive a personal note from her in the mail. Sometimes it’s sincerely sweet and sometimes her comments are funny and make me laugh. It doesn’t matter. She cared about me. Seeing my name on a piece of mail that isn’t a bill or advertisement makes my soul smile.
Look someone directly in the eye and smile and ask, “How have you been? I’ve thought about you a lot these past few days?” THEN LISTEN!!!!
Pray that God will speak their name to you and then ACT. If you pray and God speaks a person’s name to you in prayer – DON’T ignore Him. We are instruments that God uses to edify, exhort, and encourage others. Without us, God CAN do it alone . . . but why should He when He has us to touch another’s life with kindness?????
I feel very strongly about one other thing. TELL PEOPLE YOU CARE. Tell them today. Tell everyone who means something to you, as you remember each one, something they’ve done to enhance your life. Tell them before it’s too late. You don’t want to EVER receive news of a person’s death and have to live with the guilt of what you SHOULD HAVE said, or SHOULD HAVE done. Especially if it had been on your heart to do something in particular and you brushed it aside saying, “I’ll do that soon.” Sometimes “soon” never arrives and then it’s too late.
Hug your spouse, children, grandparents. Tell them they are so special to you . . . and, tell them why. Tell someone at church you barely know that you have no idea what they might be going through (maybe it’s been nothing) but tell them that you said a special prayer for them. Tell those special friends how they have touched your life. BUT . . .
Be honest.
Be real.
Tell the cashier at Wal-Mart (funny how Wal-Mart always ends up in my posts, huh?!!!) that you always enjoy coming through their line because they work so hard, or because they are always so friendly, or WHATEVER.
FIND GOOD IN PEOPLE AND, THEN, TELL THEM WHAT YOU FOUND.
Don’t be shy. One day, sooner than you think, it might be too late.
Care about others. Care, care, care about them.
God will bless you abundantly.
Comments (14)
Very good reminder and exhortation, Cheryl. Thank you.
That is so true! The cool thing is that when we reach out, it blesses us as well as the person we want to minister to. We are Christ’s hands and feet. We are the ones He is going to send. ~~ Glad Rissy is feeling better, and that you are going to get some time to chill while your family is at the movies. What a good daddy!
Dear, sweet Cherylyn,
I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your friendship, your “listening ear”, your prayers and encouragement. You’ll never know what a blessing you have been to me. May God bless you in a special way today!
Love, Judy
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! Thank you for your honest and much needed post. I have the very same thoughts but often find myself forgetting or becoming so busy that I don’t reach out to others. Thank you so much for opening my eyes and my heart today. ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))
“FIND GOOD IN PEOPLE AND, THEN, TELL THEM WHAT YOU FOUND.”
wow. wonderful post. very unheard stuff really — and right on. I’m in an area where there are tons of homeschooler, home churches, vasts groups of conservative Christians… and I pretty much hear from no one but my mom, sister, one other woman who is my mom’s friend. If I do hear from one, it’s something they find I’m doing that they disagree with. Yes, makes you think you should just isolate.
and that’s wrong.
and it also makes me go more inward instead of doing what you are writing here as well — this topic you’ve written on — around here, it seems people do those nice caring things to someone if they will get something in return – affirmation, or praise back – or do it to someone who is in the “ministry” or to those in position. but what about those just normal folks who live their lives day in and day out just plugging away in where God has them?
Because I’ve gone through some pretty lonely spells God has brought to my attention the very thing you’re writing about — the “wal mart lady”
those I just come in contact with in my day – to talk to them, smile and say blessings – to strangers, to neighbors, to my children — whom ever God gives. Thanks for encouraging in this — it confirms what I think God has been impressing on my own heart — and it also shows me, by lack of such caringness in our community, to not get sucked into that thinking — to be different — showing no partiality – but rather touching lives no matter.
thanks. thanks too for caring. you’ve no idea what that means right now. or maybe you do.
Thanks for the encouraging post! When I think of all the times I get down, depressed or are just going through a difficult time, even if I say everything is going good, I would really love it if people I knew did reach out, even if its just a call or note to say “hi”.
It is important to reach out to others, give a smile, a word of thanks or encouragement. I also try to reach out to others when I am down, there is something very uplifting about helping those around you, even when you are hurting! Yes, too many times we get so wrapped up in what is going on in our own lives, that we don’t allow God to bless others through us.
@tkmuskrat -
“I also try to reach out to others when I am down, there is something very uplifting about helping those around you, even when you are hurting!”
I heard someone preach about depression one time years ago, and I’ve never forgotten what was said.
“At the point I was at my lowest, my spouse drug me to church. Someone was at the altar crying and crying. I was moved to o forward and pray for their broken spirit with them. As I did so, I felt my own broken spirit beginning to heal.”
SO TRUE!
Thanks again for the encouragement! Yes it does help to reach out to others when you are discouraged…helps to get your mind off of your own problems. I have done it and others have done the same to me.
Thanks for the encouragement you are to us!
Tina
That was absolutely beautiful (and therefore, so “Cherylyn”). I’m glad you have some quiet time for yourself today. Tell Mr. P. that I think he rocks too.
Thank you- this was excellent!!!
Very inspiring! Yes, we definitely need to reach out to those who are in need. Random acts of kindness will surely touch a person’s heart. Smile and see the beauty in everything and in everyone.. God bless!
I totally agree w/you. We need encouragment SO MUCH. Thanks for sharing this. . . .I hope it inspires lots of people!!!!
Thank you for your thoughts!! “those I just come in contact with in my day – to talk to them, smile and say blessings – to strangers, to neighbors, to my children — whom ever God gives. Thanks for encouraging in this — it confirms what I think God has been impressing on my own heart — and it also shows me, by lack of such caringness in our community, to not get sucked into that thinking — to be different — showing no partiality – but rather touching lives no matter.” What Alyssa said is so true here in my city and I have told myself that I will be different, a light, and show love and encouragement to others. It is tough not to isolate yourself and just get away! But this isn’t what God has called us to do. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify our Father!!” Amen!
I totally agree w/ you about sending messages, emailing a hello, mailing a note, etc!! It is sooo refreshing to recieve a card in the mail instead of the constant bills!! Reminds me to do unto others as you would have them do to you. We live in an area where everyone minds their own business and doesn’t talk to the neighbor – we moved here from a very “nosy”, gossoping community, so it was strange for us at first not to wave hi or talk to a neighbor – I think it’s different and maybe strange for our neighbors too cause we wave, say hi, and try to show we care about their lives. Hopefully they will see Jesus in us as we show kindness to them. Showing love and kindness to others takes our eyes off ourselves and gives us less time to dwell on our troubles.
Great truths in your post to apply to our lives.