I was about to write an entry about something that is burdening my heart, but knowing that I am still struggling with it, I realized it wouldn't be wise.
But, I will instead talk about loving people. What does it mean to be "there" for someone when they need you?
A few years ago, my husband's father died. We received so many sympathy cards from his coworkers. I was amazed. They were comforting--because it meant so much to know that they cared. His boss' boss' boss even sent a card. But, we didn't get any cards from anyone at church.
We talk a lot in the church about believers and nonbelievers and how they are different. Sometimes nonbelievers are much better than loving people than we, as believers are.
Now, whenever I know someone who has had a family member pass away, I send a card as soon as I can--because I know how much it meant to me.
I learned the same lessons with thank you notes. In the course of a conversation when we lived in the South, I realized that my friend was expecting a thank you note. I sent wedding notes after our wedding years ago, but I wasn't in a regular habit of sending thank you notes. I made sure that that day, I wrote one out to her and got it in the mail. Ever since then, I've made sure that I write thank you notes. I do it because I want people to know how much I appreciated their gift--or how much the kids did if it was for them. I want people to know that I care.
I'm going to keep pondering this question of "how can we be "there" for people?" But, really a better question is "how can we show people that we love them?"
But, I will instead talk about loving people. What does it mean to be "there" for someone when they need you?
A few years ago, my husband's father died. We received so many sympathy cards from his coworkers. I was amazed. They were comforting--because it meant so much to know that they cared. His boss' boss' boss even sent a card. But, we didn't get any cards from anyone at church.
We talk a lot in the church about believers and nonbelievers and how they are different. Sometimes nonbelievers are much better than loving people than we, as believers are.
Now, whenever I know someone who has had a family member pass away, I send a card as soon as I can--because I know how much it meant to me.
I learned the same lessons with thank you notes. In the course of a conversation when we lived in the South, I realized that my friend was expecting a thank you note. I sent wedding notes after our wedding years ago, but I wasn't in a regular habit of sending thank you notes. I made sure that that day, I wrote one out to her and got it in the mail. Ever since then, I've made sure that I write thank you notes. I do it because I want people to know how much I appreciated their gift--or how much the kids did if it was for them. I want people to know that I care.
I'm going to keep pondering this question of "how can we be "there" for people?" But, really a better question is "how can we show people that we love them?"
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