Maybe it was the effort that was required to express her appreciation or maybe it was just the joy of being able to help in a small way, but in a way that brought much blessing to both the one gave and one who received such an simple act of kindness,
While visiting a friend from Valley at one of our care homes, I noticed a lady struggling to open a candy bar. It was quickly apparent she did not have the use of one of her hands, making the task almost impossible. I simply asked, 'can I help you with that'; she could but speak but nodded yes. It only too a few seconds and when I was done, she reached for a tablet and with her finger scratched the simple words 'thank you'. I smiled at her and said 'your welcome', enjoy your snack.
As I left I too said the words 'thank you'; thank you, Lord for allowing me this opportunity to bless the heart of another.
Such opportunities are around us all the time and if we have eyes to see and ears to listen, we can be God's agents of blessing through simple acts of kindness.
A couple days later while visiting friends at Mariposa I found myself standing at one of the dining room tables and noticed a resident trying to reach behind her neck to close a snap. I know it's sometimes best to allow residents to do what they can but when it appeared she was getting frustrated I asked, 'can I give you a hand with that' and snapped it closed. The words quickly came back, 'thank you'. On the way out I held the door for a resident and once again heard the words 'thank you'.
Such simple acts of kindness and the only 'reward'...to hear those words that lift our spirits perhaps more than any other expression we share with one another: 'thank you'.
We ought to be a people of thanksgiving; giving thanks to one another for blessings and acts of kindness shared and, giving thanks to our Father in heaven for His abundant goodness. On this Thanksgiving weekend, may we be among those who say 'thank you'!
May the words of the Psalmist be our prayer as we give praise and thanksgiving to God and Father.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty--
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works--
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
While visiting a friend from Valley at one of our care homes, I noticed a lady struggling to open a candy bar. It was quickly apparent she did not have the use of one of her hands, making the task almost impossible. I simply asked, 'can I help you with that'; she could but speak but nodded yes. It only too a few seconds and when I was done, she reached for a tablet and with her finger scratched the simple words 'thank you'. I smiled at her and said 'your welcome', enjoy your snack.
As I left I too said the words 'thank you'; thank you, Lord for allowing me this opportunity to bless the heart of another.
Such opportunities are around us all the time and if we have eyes to see and ears to listen, we can be God's agents of blessing through simple acts of kindness.
A couple days later while visiting friends at Mariposa I found myself standing at one of the dining room tables and noticed a resident trying to reach behind her neck to close a snap. I know it's sometimes best to allow residents to do what they can but when it appeared she was getting frustrated I asked, 'can I give you a hand with that' and snapped it closed. The words quickly came back, 'thank you'. On the way out I held the door for a resident and once again heard the words 'thank you'.
Such simple acts of kindness and the only 'reward'...to hear those words that lift our spirits perhaps more than any other expression we share with one another: 'thank you'.
We ought to be a people of thanksgiving; giving thanks to one another for blessings and acts of kindness shared and, giving thanks to our Father in heaven for His abundant goodness. On this Thanksgiving weekend, may we be among those who say 'thank you'!
May the words of the Psalmist be our prayer as we give praise and thanksgiving to God and Father.
Psalm 145
I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty--
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works--
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
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