The Negativity Remedyনমুনা

Day 3:  How can I show kindness to others when I feel like I have nothing to give?  

Have you ever felt like you’ve reached the end of yourself—like you have nothing left to give? Five years ago, in the middle of my battle with breast cancer, that’s exactly where I found myself. It was 4:30 in the morning and I was lying in bed thinking of what my illness had taken from my family and what it was still going to take. Our resources were stretched. The medical bills, the time sitting in waiting rooms, the pure exhaustion of it all. 

God interrupted my thoughts to remind me of the woman living in a tent on my neighbor’s lawn. She had just finished treatment for a drug addiction and was determined to stay clean. She woke up every morning at 4:30 to begin the hour-long walk to her new job. 

It was raining. I thought of her walking in the rain and how miserable that must be. I knew what God was telling me. “Help her.”

“Oh God. I can’t. Please don’t ask this of me. I have nothing left to give.” I’m ashamed to say this, but I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. 

Later that afternoon, I saw the woman walking home from her job. I pulled over my car and asked if she wanted a ride. I was feeling guilty about not having helped earlier in the day. I still had no idea what I could do to make her life easier, but I felt convicted that God was telling me to do something. “No thanks,” she cheerily replied. During some quick small talk, she told me she’d be getting paid this week and would be able to buy herself a bike to make the commute easier. 

The lightbulb went on. I knew what God was asking of me. He didn’t want me to wake up at 4:30 every morning and drive this woman to work. He didn’t want me to dip into my bank account. He wanted me to give her a bike. The bike that was collecting dust in our garage because it was a spare and no one ever used it.

My new friend was delighted with the bike, even though she was hesitant to accept it. “Why would you do this for me?” she asked warily. 

“Because I see how hard you are working. I imagine sometimes it feels like you’re alone in this battle, but I see you and I care. More importantly, God sees you and He cares.”

Both of our eyes filled with tears. I think I was more blessed than she was, because in that moment, I totally forgot I had breast cancer. 

Friend, you always have something to give. We see it in His Word. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

Along with spiritual gifts, He has given us the ability to smile, to listen, to give a free glass of water to a thirsty body, and the Word of God to a thirsty soul. 

God promises to make up what we lack. When we are weak and empty, He is strong. How gifted we are, especially when we feel like we have nothing left to give.