Help ~ The Beatles
Open Heaven ~ Hillsong
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our
troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves receive from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Life really hurts sometimes. My
grandpa Hayes is dying. Brad’s grandma is very sick and weak. Brad’s mom just
had several blood clots removed from her lungs and legs, and now must live on
tank oxygen and blood thinners, and simple things, like washing dishes, are too
much of a struggle for her.
Hard times and pain are just as much
a part of life as are joy and celebration. But often, we don’t know how to
respond when we see others hurting and either walk away—afraid the pain is contagious—or
fill in the space with plastic wrap answers and responses that don't really
help the people who are hurting.
But there is HELP:
H - Hands. Compelled by compassion, we want to
reach out and ease the pain. Try a hug, a phone call, or text just to say hello
and remind them you’re here for them.
E - Everyone. You can't do
everything, but everyone can do something. What comes naturally to me may be a
struggle for you. Try cooking/buying a meal, running errands, doing a chore
(like laundry), bringing coffee, or sitting quietly with them.
L - Love. Love is what compels us to act. It's
WHY we're moved with compassion. In
the middle of the pain, those who are hurting just want to know they're still
loved and not alone.
P - People. At the end of the day, we're all
people. We need prayer, real encouragement, and people who will stand
side-by-side with us, until the end.
If you're going through something,
don't be afraid to reach out and let others surround you. And if you know
someone going through a hard time, they don't need you to answer "why"
it’s happening. Just be there in whatever way God leads you. Comfort them the
way you've been comforted.
They're looking for help and God sent you.
©Heather Potts 2018
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