Please, May I Help You?નમૂનો

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

Over the eight years after Dan’s amputation, you knew when he appreciated the help.  He didn’t tell me every time, but you could sense it, and then out of the blue, when I least expected it, he would do something sweet as a token of his appreciation, like painstakingly make our bed with one arm!

I don’t have just two pillows on our bed, I have several decorator pillows, and our comforter always has to be turned back.  He watched and monitored how I made the bed without me realizing he was keeping track.  Because I worked and was up before he was, the bed always needed to be made after he got up.  During my coffee break was when I would go to the bedroom to make the bed. Many a morning, I would find it made, just as if I had done it myself.  What a precious gift that was to me!   What took me five minutes to make a bed took him fifteen. Without words, I felt his labor of love and appreciation.

Have you ever known a person who never gives?  It seems that person is a taker!  There are people in this world that feel life owes them everything.  How sad, for if they could only grasp the principle of giving, they would learn of great rewards!   That certainly doesn’t mean that every time we do something for another person, that money will come our way. It means that when we bless others, it makes us feel good inside, and most of all, it pleases God!

We often reject allowing others to help us because we feel it is like accepting charity. We feel we are intruding on that person’s time, but the truth is, it is our pride that keeps us from receiving what others want to give.

God did not put us on earth to store those blessings only for our use.  The more we can bless another soul, the more God will multiply blessings.

It is the principle of sowing and reaping.  If you don’t plant those seed packets, they won’t grow.  When we reach out to bless others, it is a way of glorifying God, so when we reject help offered by others, we are not allowing them to be a blessing for God!

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then breads to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”   2 Corinthians 9:6-11

I have been as guilty as the next person in not wanting to accept help.  It feels awkward at times. Yet, allowing others to help is a way God humbles us and another avenue of growing spiritually!

CAN YOU RELATE?

If I have heard it once, I have heard it fifty times:  “You didn’t have to get me that!” And worse yet, I have been guilty of saying it to people.  When a person takes the time to purchase a gift, they wanted to make us happy, so we should receive it with grace.  The truth is, we all enjoy receiving surprises from time to time!  Right?  Join me tomorrow as we learn more about God’s principle of giving and receiving!