Do as the Lord. . .
Proverbs 3:27 Don’t withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so.
Proverbs 11:25 Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves prosper.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deeds.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
The Bible says we all need to have a heart change and to grow more in the Holy Spirit and Jesus, and therefore do works for others. The needs can seem almost endless — helping someone get to appointments, picking up groceries, helping with yard and garden work, babysitting for youngsters or sitting with an infirm person so the caregiver can get out for a break, volunteering to pet sit so a family can go on vacation, making a meal and delivering it, and the list grows.
Until I delved into the Bible, I never realized that was part of Ten Commandments, but it is. My siblings and I were fortunate enough to live in a home that included my maternal grandmother as well as both parents. My Dad had to work 3-11:30 PM secondary to health problems and struggling with lung issues in the mornings for a couple hours. But my parents were always looking for ways to help and to lend a hand to others.
Sometimes, my parents may have volunteered our services to help rake leaves or shovel snow for one of the neighbors. They may have said I would be happy to babysit some of the children. When I had a babysitting job, my parents told me to do it thoroughly—which included doing dishes if there were any left dirty, picking up the toys after the kids went to bed, straightening out the furniture, or whatever was out of place. Without saying the words, we were to do “the tasks as though to the Lord.”
Normally, people are appreciative of the efforts one extends. There are the rare persons who come to expect more and more, which later causes distance.
This was a gift my parents and grandmother gave to us. They showed us how to show kindness and generosity to others, and to volunteer to help others. We learned we felt good helping others, and I, for one, appreciated hearing how pleased my efforts made someone else.
Because I volunteered to help with whatever needed to be done, I was invited to spend a month with cousins in Vermont. Again, I did my part with dishes, keeping the bedroom clean, and doing whatever we were told to do to help the household run smoothly. Therefore, my aunt told my parents I was always welcome. And that is a wonderful thing for a parent to hear about their child.
While living in Germany I was working in the military clinic in Stuttgart and people would see and recognize my last name and ask if I had a son who worked at the motor pool, or the commissary. The eldest worked at the motor pool, and the youngest at the commissary—but it was frequent to get the feedback they were wonderful, helpful, polite young men. It was so super to hear that feedback! It was a great thing to hear and share with my husband. Somehow, without a training manual, our three children turned out to be hardworking, kind and helpful people. And they are still like that—we are blessed!
But kindness, goodness and trying to help others whenever you see or expect a need is what Jesus did. He KNEW, but we too are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His prodding. That is what we are to do—reach out to those who may be alone over the holiday season, invite them to a meal, bring cookies, offer to shop or take them to an appointment or shopping. Reaching out to those in need, or just lonely, or alone means so much. One can bring light and relieve some gloom, especially when one continues to reach out to a person who is alone, living a lonely existence, and thinks there is no hope. So much brightens when someone reaches out to another.
One can feel God’s love and presence when kindness is given. It touches the heart, it lightens a load, it is an example of why God created people—to help one another, to reach out and lighten one’s load, to show love and care for another, to give in a positive manner, to allow someone else to see a glimpse of love, and then perhaps more than a glimpse, but they can experience the full lightness of friendship and God’s love. Everyone needs to feel cared for and cared about.
Lord, thank You for blessing me with a loving and kind, and good family, from grandparents through grandchildren, You have richly blessed me. Thank You for all You have blessed me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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