Showing posts with label Servanthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Servanthood. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Day 5 - A Cup of Cold Water
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."-- Matthew 10:42
We clambered over boulders and pulled ourselves up the last part of the trail. My legs quivered from exhaustion. Sweat poured down the hot skin of my face as the sun seemed determined to press me back down the mountain.
"Want a drink?" My husband handed me his water bottle.
Water was never sweeter.
I had a bottle of my own in my backpack. I could have eventually dug it out. But the OFFER of a drink of water placed in my shaking hand was a gift that made that water feel even better than if I'd just provided it for myself.
Let's be literal today. Be alert to the people around you. If you have young children in your home, tearing around the back yard, hand them a tumbler of cool water as they come in the door. Make iced tea for your husband, or pour a favorite soda for your teen as he comes in the door from school, and hand it to him.
Anticipate a need and offer a simple refreshment.
Then let us know how it went!
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Day 4 - The Enemy
Jesus said, "Love your enemy, pray for those who persecute you."
A tall order when I get cranky even with those who are kind and delightful to me--like my family members and dear friends.
"Enemy" is a strange concept, too, because in my daily life of housework, family life, and writing, I don't run into a lot of people who directly oppose, attack, or persecute me. But if we broaden our understanding of "enemy" to those who seem to hinder things from going our way, then some one may come to mind.
Someone who nabs the good parking space, someone who jams up the customer service line with persistent arguments, the family member who makes us feel small with a barbed comment, the friend who blithely chats about a luxury vacation when we long for even a weekend getaway, a coworker who finagles their work onto our pile somehow.
Has someone come to mind?
Now - let's pray for that "enemy".... NO! Not the "teach them how wrong they are being" sort of prayer. Let's really dig deep and start thinking of the blessings we long for - love, fellowship, closeness to God, meaning and purpose . . . and let's ask for those on behalf of the "enemy." And while we're at it, a little confessing of our own selfish or harsh attitudes would be a good idea, too.
Still with me?
Okay, now let's ask God to inspire a small kind act we can do for the person that came to mind.
A genuine compliment (not to improve the relationship so WE feel better, but simply to bless them) or a word of praise to someone else about them. Or offering them our dessert. Or a handwritten note. OR, if there is an ongoing conflict about a parking spot, the way to roll up toothpaste, or the pile of work on the desk--how about giving ground--on purpose--as a gift of love?
I can't wait to hear what God stirs up today, as we practice improbable love. :-)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
A tall order when I get cranky even with those who are kind and delightful to me--like my family members and dear friends.
"Enemy" is a strange concept, too, because in my daily life of housework, family life, and writing, I don't run into a lot of people who directly oppose, attack, or persecute me. But if we broaden our understanding of "enemy" to those who seem to hinder things from going our way, then some one may come to mind.
Someone who nabs the good parking space, someone who jams up the customer service line with persistent arguments, the family member who makes us feel small with a barbed comment, the friend who blithely chats about a luxury vacation when we long for even a weekend getaway, a coworker who finagles their work onto our pile somehow.
Has someone come to mind?
Now - let's pray for that "enemy".... NO! Not the "teach them how wrong they are being" sort of prayer. Let's really dig deep and start thinking of the blessings we long for - love, fellowship, closeness to God, meaning and purpose . . . and let's ask for those on behalf of the "enemy." And while we're at it, a little confessing of our own selfish or harsh attitudes would be a good idea, too.
Still with me?
Okay, now let's ask God to inspire a small kind act we can do for the person that came to mind.
A genuine compliment (not to improve the relationship so WE feel better, but simply to bless them) or a word of praise to someone else about them. Or offering them our dessert. Or a handwritten note. OR, if there is an ongoing conflict about a parking spot, the way to roll up toothpaste, or the pile of work on the desk--how about giving ground--on purpose--as a gift of love?
I can't wait to hear what God stirs up today, as we practice improbable love. :-)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
Friday, August 15, 2008
How Can I Help?
What precious words!
Lately I've had the gift of that question offered to me by several friends.
I was talking about some discouragement . . . okay, I'll be honest, more of a feeling of hopelessness about some things that matter deeply to me.
Several friends, via email, phone, or in person, listened, cared, and said those precious words. How can I help?
Today, when someone across from us is angry, hurt, hopeless, or weary, let's offer a shoulder, a hand, a hug. And before giving suggestions, let's first meet their eyes and ask, "How can I help?"
Sometimes a person is too lost in the dark valley to KNOW what to ask for, or what they need. They may not be able to answer that question. Then we can get creative and offer a few ideas.
Sixteen years ago, I was seriously ill for several months. I was so sick that when people asked how they could help, I was too muddle-headed to think of an answer. So friends came up with their own ideas and shared love in a zillion ways.
One of the most unique was a woman from church that I didn't know too well at the time. She called up and said, "Can I please come over and clean your bathroom for you? I'm good at cleaning, and I want to help, and that's something I could do for you."
What a wonderful, specific, humble, beautiful offer!
I still remember how great it felt, after so many weeks of not being able to keep up on housework, to have a sparkling clean bathroom.
Has anyone asked you this wonderful question lately?
And have you had an opportunity to ask it of anyone?
Leave a comment and you'll be entered in my next drawing for a Penny's Project notebook (beautifully hand-crafted by a friend of mine...another of those women who ask, "How can I help?".)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
Lately I've had the gift of that question offered to me by several friends.
I was talking about some discouragement . . . okay, I'll be honest, more of a feeling of hopelessness about some things that matter deeply to me.
Several friends, via email, phone, or in person, listened, cared, and said those precious words. How can I help?
Today, when someone across from us is angry, hurt, hopeless, or weary, let's offer a shoulder, a hand, a hug. And before giving suggestions, let's first meet their eyes and ask, "How can I help?"
Sometimes a person is too lost in the dark valley to KNOW what to ask for, or what they need. They may not be able to answer that question. Then we can get creative and offer a few ideas.
Sixteen years ago, I was seriously ill for several months. I was so sick that when people asked how they could help, I was too muddle-headed to think of an answer. So friends came up with their own ideas and shared love in a zillion ways.
One of the most unique was a woman from church that I didn't know too well at the time. She called up and said, "Can I please come over and clean your bathroom for you? I'm good at cleaning, and I want to help, and that's something I could do for you."
What a wonderful, specific, humble, beautiful offer!
I still remember how great it felt, after so many weeks of not being able to keep up on housework, to have a sparkling clean bathroom.
Has anyone asked you this wonderful question lately?
And have you had an opportunity to ask it of anyone?
Leave a comment and you'll be entered in my next drawing for a Penny's Project notebook (beautifully hand-crafted by a friend of mine...another of those women who ask, "How can I help?".)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Servanthood
Coming out of a movie theater after a family outing, my youngest daughter picked up something from the ground. I looked over, thinking she'd dropped something.
"What's that?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Something for me to throw away later."
Litter? She was picking up litter in a big old public parking lot?
When we got home, I sidled close to her and said, "Hey, thanks for doing that. But what made you think of it?"
She explained that on her recent mission trip, where she worked to clean and paint a community center, they discussed the issue of being a servant. It was easy during the parameters of the mission trip to think about giving their labor to others each day, but could be easy to forget about once they got home. My daughter didn't want to revert to the way most of us function - avoiding the dirty jobs. She wanted to bring the attitude of humble service into every day.
Cool, isn't it?
And other than this time when I caught her at it, it's the sort of quiet service that no one will ever see or praise or reward.
I once spent a week at a retreat center, and a nun who was also on the retreat wiped down the public restroom's sink and counter after getting ready in the morning. I never would have thought of doing that...leaving the space nicer than it was for the stranger who would use it next.
Can you think of other "invisible" acts of servanthood?
Remember, everyone who posts comments before August 1st will be entered in a drawing for a Penny's Project Notebook (to keep track of your small steps of kindness)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
"What's that?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Something for me to throw away later."
Litter? She was picking up litter in a big old public parking lot?
When we got home, I sidled close to her and said, "Hey, thanks for doing that. But what made you think of it?"
She explained that on her recent mission trip, where she worked to clean and paint a community center, they discussed the issue of being a servant. It was easy during the parameters of the mission trip to think about giving their labor to others each day, but could be easy to forget about once they got home. My daughter didn't want to revert to the way most of us function - avoiding the dirty jobs. She wanted to bring the attitude of humble service into every day.
Cool, isn't it?
And other than this time when I caught her at it, it's the sort of quiet service that no one will ever see or praise or reward.
I once spent a week at a retreat center, and a nun who was also on the retreat wiped down the public restroom's sink and counter after getting ready in the morning. I never would have thought of doing that...leaving the space nicer than it was for the stranger who would use it next.
Can you think of other "invisible" acts of servanthood?
Remember, everyone who posts comments before August 1st will be entered in a drawing for a Penny's Project Notebook (to keep track of your small steps of kindness)
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
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