Thursday Thoughts On My Faith

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

Yesterday was about faith in action for me. A good friend and neighbor of mine broke her leg on a bike ride a couple of weeks ago. It was a bad a break. She had to have surgery to help mend it. She has two boys ages 5 & 7 and the older one has mild autism like mine. Her husband works 12 hour shifts, often over night, as an EMT. She has no family here in town. It almost goes without saying that she was going to need some help.

I did help her out a little. I took her boys overnight when she broke her leg and went to the ER and then again when she went back to the hospital for her surgery. I have been helping by picking her kids up from school, but I had this nagging feeling I wasn't doing enough. I called her periodically and asked if I could do anything. She usually politely said no, she was fine. I kept thinking about what it would be like if I were in her place. I would need TONS of help but I would probably politely turn down anyone who asked. I would probably be embarrassed because my house would be a mess and I probably wouldn't be able to shower often. But I thought, I wouldn't think badly of someone who had just had surgery and had a messy house!

Yesterday morning she called to tell me I didn't need to take her older son to school because he had been throwing up all night. I knew that her husband had been on a shift overnight and asked her how on earth she dealt with that from her wheelchair. She just laughed it off and said once again that she was okay. After I got my kids to school I called her back. I said kindly, "Look here friend, you have GOT to need some help over there. So put some pants on, I'm coming over in about 20 minutes and I won't take no for an answer!" I could hear her smiling meekly and she said, "Okay."

But I struggled on my way over there. I don't like to clean. No, I hate to clean. I really hate it. And I figured what she probably needed most was help with her kitchen or bathroom and I LOATHE cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. I'm a dust and vacuum kinda girl. And then I realized that I've been avoiding going over there (forgive me "friend" if you are reading this) because I didn't want to do the work. I was being totally selfish. I kept making the excuse to myself that I was asking her if she needed help and she gave me the "out" I wanted by telling me "no thanks". BUT I KNEW SHE MUST NEED HELP! Wouldn't you, if you were in her situation???? This is very humbling for me to admit that I knew someone who needed help and I avoided helping her. I feel like Jonah on the way to Ninevah but hopefully I listened to the Holy Spirit's conviction soon enough and avoided being swallowed by the whale!

So I asked God's forgiveness and asked Him to help me, help her. And of course He did. When I got there I found out that she did need help, in a big way. I asked her what was "bugging" her the most in her house. Of course it was the kid's bathroom. I thought, "Oh man, I HATE cleaning bathrooms!" But guess what? I was just fine while cleaning it, "little boy pee-pee stink" and all. I really was okay and I enjoyed serving the Lord doing it. I found a true joy from serving! I did some other things, changed sheets, folded laundry and the time flew by. I was surprised to find myself disappointed when had to leave because Baby Girl needed her nap. I planned to go back today to help again. However, my boys spiked fevers and had sore throats last night so I couldn't go back today and I was bummed that I couldn't go! I wanted that joy again of serving God by serving one of His children. Of course I am serving Him today by serving my own children (who have strep throat, poor babies!) but I think in the future I will not be so quick to make excuses when I have an opportunity to serve outside my home. I found, once again, it is always the right thing to obey God and love others as we love ourselves.