Caring for the Needs of Others
Think back to your childhood. For some of you, that is a short trip, for others of us, there may be quite a journey. But take a moment to think back to a time when you remember the values that your elders surrounded you with. Does something home to mind a bout a specific family member who was determined in their activities? Or perhaps one that was known for their generosity. What brings that image in to mind? Hold onto the vision that you have of that person as I share a little bit about mine.
My mother was the middle of eight children, 2 boys and 6 girls. Four looked exactly like their mother and four exactly like their father. The were brought up in the middle of farm country in a tiny Tennessee village. For the entirity of my grandmother’s life, the only running water she had was when one of her children would take a bucket and run up to Grandma Uselton’s house to get a bucket of water from her well. There was no inside plumbing and no electricity. Before you begin to think that this was in a far0off generation, I am talking about a home that they were still residing in when my grandmother passed away in 1972, a mere 40 years ago. But while she did not have much at all in the way of physical possessions, she was filled with integrity, honor and love. She taught her daughters the value of hard work and of being dependable and industrious.
Of all of my mama’s sisters, the one that came to my mind earlier in the post was my Aunt Doris. She was the second daughter, and the one just older than my mama. She is in her mid-60s now, but I have never seen this woman take a lazy moment in her life. She works hard at everything thing she does. But more amazingly, she has cared for her family without ever working outside her home. This was a decision that she and her husband made many many years ago before they even had children. She would be home with those children no matter what.
God definitely gave her time and opportunity the challenge those decisions. Back in the ’80s, they had a son in college, and two daughters in high school. My Uncle Frank (her husband) went to work just like he did every day, but one day she received a call that he had been injured. He had herniated several disks, and the doctors did not believe that he would ever work again, and perhaps not even walk. Now they had a big decision to make. Over half of their income was now gone, but they still had a son in college, 2 daughters in private school, both of them graduating within the next couple of years and planning to attend college as well, not to mention the medical bills.
I have seen so many women go into a panic and immediately start looking for another job outside the home that would give them more money but sacrificing the time with their family and with the home business that God had put on their hearts, but not my Aunt. She continued on in the path that God had given her, trusting that He would provide for their needs.
serving the needs of others
As I have become so ill, she has taken the time to check in with me several times a month to make sure that I am doing okay.
I watch her and her husband as they go through all of their medical issues. My Uncle’s injuries have placed him on so much pain medicine that many of his other organs are starting to fail, but when you see him, he has a smile on his face as he walks out the door for his morning 2 miles. I look at my aunt who has had both of her shoulders and her knees replaced from hard labor. One day I ask her how see is able to keep going as well as she does with all of these difficulties, and she tells me a profound secret that I want to share with you. She told me, “Every time I start to get discouraged, I look around myself and see someone who is in a worse situation than I am; and I realize that it is not possible for me to get discouraged. If they can keep going, then so can I.” She has let that be the attitude that ruled her life.
Today as I was reading my Scriptures, I came across this passage. I had heard it and read it many times, but it had only related to me as a farming thing. I did not take the time to apply it to real life. The verse is here;
Deuteronomy 4:19-22, “When you harvest your grain and forget a sheaf back in the field, don’t go back and get it; leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow so that God, your God, will bless you in all your work. When you shake the olives off your trees, don’t go back over the branches and strip them bare—what’s left is for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. And when you cut the grapes in your vineyard, don’t take every last grape—leave a few for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in Egypt. I command you: Do what I’m telling you.”
I never consider plucking my fields since I have never had a garden in my life, but perhaps I do have gardens in my world that need to be addressed. Do I have some extra time that I could spend on someone else? Do I have a skill that could help and encourage someone else? Then I need to be using theses for others instead of hoarding everything for myself. I need to look outside of my little world.
Have you looked outside your world? What do you see? Can you take some of the resources, skills and talents that God has given you and bless others with them? It doesn’t matter where you are, or what kind of health you are in, there is still something that you can do that will bless others and honor God.
Abba Father, today I thank you for opening my eyes to see the gifts that you’ve given me that I could and can share with others. Please forgive me for squandering the resources that you have given me, and help me to be aware of how I can serve others more effective. In your Precious name, I ask. AMEN.
Is there anything that I can pray for you about? God has allowed me a season full of prayer, and I would love to add your concerns to my list. The Father has told us that where two or there are gathered together, He will be in their midst. I truly believe that God will bring more blessing and guidance if we will just include others in our needs.
May God bless you richly this week as you serve our great Savior.
To learn more about service and giving, visit Wendy’s website My Grown Up Christmas Wish.
What a wonderful godly example your Aunt Doris gives you. You’re right; most women would see that as a sign to go back to work. But she trusted God and continued on the path He had for her. Wonderful story and testimony.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Such a sweet post.
You are right, Wendy, sometimes we don’t share the wealth of knowledge God has given us. Thank you for the reminder.