“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” —Matthew 10:42 NLT
I was sore and bone-weary after a simple surgery and not allowed to even walk much for two weeks. So I sat. I sat in the living room and then for a change of pace, shuffled to the bedroom and sat in the loveseat there. Then, I moved to the deck and sat. It was a quieting down time like no other. I always talk about taking a Sweet Selah Day once a month, and now I had been gifted with a huge chunk of selah time—if I chose to use it to focus on the Lord and His lessons for me. And yet, sitting was becoming a bit … dull.
Bing! My phone lit up, signaling that a text had arrived. It was a simple sentence: Praying for you. Oh, but it came at just the right moment. That little three-word encouragement from a friend out there, who knew I’d just had surgery and cared enough to stop and pray for me, totally shifted my attitude to gratitude and dissipated the little pity party I’d been having with myself. Three words was all it took.
My friend could have handled it differently. She could have felt guilty that she was unable to provide a meal or go grocery shopping for me. She could have lived in self-reproach that she couldn’t “be there” for me in concrete ways. In fact, I have been-there, done-that waaaay too often. Have you? We desire to do more, to serve and help people, but days fill up and responsibilities loom and fancy meals for surgery-recovering friends just don’t easily climb to the top of the priority list. Instead of bemoaning what she couldn’t do, my friend did what she could do. She prayed. And she told me. And that was good. It made me so very happy!
We have to get over this “Go big or go home” mentality in daily living and service. Many wonderful causes out there deserve our attention. But, seriously, we cannot simultaneously run a soup kitchen, minister to homeless people, write weekly letters to missionaries, and visit our neighbors. Right? There will always be more good things we could do than hours in which to do them. We cannot do it all. But what can we do?
We can …
- stop and pray for a hurting friend and send an encouraging text.
- choose one missionary and write one letter once a month.
- ask God which ministry He is calling us to support and give gladly to that one.
- bake muffins from a mix and deliver to a neighbor when we just don’t have time to create a meal.
- call or email or text a person God has put on our hearts and simply ask how they’re doing.
- hold the door open for someone entering or leaving a store.
- tell the cashier at that store you like her nail polish or simply smile and thank her.
- invite someone to “do life” with us in simple ways, like taking a walk or joining us on a shopping trip.
- forego the elaborate prep and just pop some popcorn and cut up some apples and invite a neighbor over to munch and chat.
Jesus taught us that even stopping to give someone a cold drink of water is worthy of reward. Yes. Little acts of kindness in our busy lives matter. Let’s remember that little decisions to encourage and show love are seen and valued by the God who even notices when a sparrow falls to the ground. When we can’t do it all … let’s ask Him …
Heavenly Father, please help me to abide with You, hearing Your voice and Your direction for each day’s interactions and each day’s plans. Help me to “go big” when that is Your will for me, but help me not to despise the little things, when little is all I can do. Thank You that You notice when one of your children stops and gives a cup of cold water to even “one of the least” of Your followers. Help us, Lord, to walk in step with Your Spirit, doing what we can. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
With thanks to Gayle Hadden, a dear friend,
who taught me to ask the simple question when
I felt overwhelmed … “What can I do?”
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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thank you for the reminder, dear friend!!!! It’s so easy to take on what God does not call us to carry….or….to not take up His work for us to do. It takes such wisdom and trust to do just what He’s put in front of us, even if it’s “only” prayer. I love you!!! Have a blessed day today.
Love you back, Donna! Sometimes it's okay to do a little. And you are so right. We need to seek His wisdom and trust Him to show us what our role is in each unique situation.
As I get older, it seems I can do less and less. Thankful for what I can do,
even if it is just writing a note, or saying a prayer. Thanks for this very
practical message>
Ever since my friend Gayle spoke on this topic, that little question, What CAN I do? ... has stuck with me. It's enabled me to do many a "little thing" that would have been left undone without her wise advice. I am so happy to pass it on.
Thank you, Sharon. I do believe that it is sometimes
the simple or small things that we do that can mean
so much. Letting people know that we care and think about
them by sending a card or note or a phone call can truly make
a difference. You are a blessing and I love you.
Candie, it's so encouraging to me that God will use even a cup of cold water given in His Name for good. Phew! I don't always have to be "fancy." Simple love shared in simple ways is good. Thanks for the encouragement. Love you back!