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Choosing Availability

Helping others is not always easy. There are many reasons that helping can be hard. It may be that you do not know how to help someone or you may feel you do not have the necessary tools. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to spot the needs of the people in your day-to-day life. But across the world and in your own neighborhood, there are plenty of people who need help. Like the parable of the Good Samaritan, we must make ourselves available to help those around us.

As you go out into the world, think of the story of the Good Samaritan. Which character from the story should we be most like: the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan? The Samaritan helped the beaten man by cleaning his wounds and paying for his care. He was available to help. The priest and the Levite chose to be unavailable to help. There are many people in our communities who need help. We must open our hearts to the idea of helping others and then take action. Go to God and ask for wisdom on how to help those around you. The way that we make ourselves available may be different from the way others do. It will also vary based on if you are helping them with a physical need, mental need, or spiritual need. Take comfort in knowing that God is with you as you help others and be confident in His promise to help those He loves. As you continue your day, make yourself available to help others.

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• What are some ways you can become more available?
• Is there someone in your life who you need to make yourself more available to help?