Say Something!

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?” – Matthew 7:3-4

For many years, I used the above verse to NOT have difficult conversations with my brothers and sisters. Then I read verse 5. “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” - Matthew 7:5

If I see my brother or sister struggling with a particular sin, that I have been blessed to have overcome, I am supposed to share in their burden. I am supposed to help them overcome and onto the right path.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:1-2

God has placed it on my heart to have (what I perceive to be) a rather difficult conversation with a friend. After many months of excuses, I have accepted this charge and am now praying for His Holy timing and for His voice to be heard through my mouth. I pray that the Holy Spirit directs my thoughts and words and readies her ears to hear the voice of the Lord, not mine.

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive. - Proverbs 16:20-21

Challenge: Is there someone God is calling you to speak with, pray with and/or encourage? Pray He gives you the courage to help that person back onto the right path.

Help!

Luke 18: 40 – 42
Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

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A couple of weeks ago, on one of our super hot Florida days, I noticed a lady as I was coming in from my mom van.  An apparent runner was leaning against a neighbor’s tree and seemed exhausted. 

Thinking I could help, I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and took it to her at the end of the driveway.  As I offered her the bottle she replied she was fine.  I told her I knew it was exceptionally hot and I had seen her leaning on the tree as if very hot.  She again refused my help, thanked me and walked on.

I was struck with the obvious.  She was hot and in need, yet she refused help. Could this be why Jesus asked the obvious question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Rather than offering sight to the blind man, maybe Jesus knew he needed to ask for help first.

Moms, it is so easy to be drowning in our everyday lives, our own pride, our own shame, our own fear, so we don’t ask for help.  No, our husbands or families or friends, can’t take all our problems and make them right, but they can help you shoulder the burden.

One of my Mommy friends texted me yesterday, with a simple plea for help, “I’m going to need a little extra prayer today.”  I was honored to pray for her and the circumstances of her life.  I was also very proud she was willing to ask for help.

It has been an on-going lesson to teach our children to ask for help, but I think it is a lesson we need to continue to remember too! Let’s not be too proud to ask for help.  Jesus is asking us, “What do you want me to do for you today?”

What would you do?

"Praise Be to the Lord, to God our Savior,

Who daily bears our burdens." 

Psalm 68: 19

I love the days when Hope is at dance and I get to meet a friend for coffee.  I was especially looking forward to this week’s coffee meeting because it would be our last visit for awhile as our family will be traveling.

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As I pulled in to wait for my friends arrival, I noticed across the parking lot another car with a lady getting out of the drivers front seat to the back seat.  I watched in disbelief as I saw ongoing arms flailing. Both from her and what I gathered was a child.

This seemed like an episode from “What would you do?”  It’s the new show where the actors portray a real life situation to see how people react. (I actually can’t watch it. Every time I’ve seen a commercial for it, it’s so disturbing I have to change the channel.)

Watching across the parking lot, I questioned what should I do?  Maybe it would soon be over.  Two different people walked by, they looked and even stared, but they didn’t do anything. Why should I?   Maybe it is a domestic violence thing…

Finally, I decided, it didn’t matter how they reacted to me, I needed to do the right thing (as Tammy encouraged us in a previous post.)  When I opened my car door, I could hear the child.  As I approached the lady's opened car doors,  I spoke to her.

 “Can I help?”  was all I knew to ask. The lady told me she was the mom of this child with developmental delays and his current medication needed to be adjusted. He had been throwing severe tantrums over the last week.  The sweet mother had several “nicks” where her son had slugged her.

I began speaking to the boy. He immediately became calm.  His speech was limited, but he seemed to understand my questions.  He is ten years old.  With the help of his mother, he told me his name and where he went to school. Just talking to him distracted him from the full on tantrum he was in the middle of.

Galations 6:2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens.  I remember a post where Kate encouraged us not to judge other mommies.  I never felt like there was blame to be given or someone to be judged.  It ached my heart to see this struggle.  I was burdened and wanted to help bear the burden

Lets pray we will be on the lookout for times when we can help carry the burdens of other moms.  These Moms could be your dearest friends or those from church or a mom you had never met before.  Maybe your meeting will come in a grocery store line, in a park or even in a parking lot.

Sweet Heavenly Father, I can’t get Lynn and her son out of my mind.  Lord help her.  Strengthen her.  Give her a desire to find you above a solution to how to care for her son   Provide those who can help carry the burden of raising this little guy.  Thank you we can trust you to bear the burden of any You have allowed to be sifted through your divine fingers.