I truly believe that people are good.
I know there are exceptions to this belief….but I think as a society we have shown over and over again that when we know WHAT to do…we do great things.
When something huge and devastating happens like 9-11 or the earthquake in Haiti …people want to help.
People go without so someone else can have.
I think it is so wonderful, good and selfless to give to these huge efforts….but this week I was really thinking about the little efforts.
This past week I watched a good friend and her husband lose their three week old little girl.
There are no words for their pain, suffering and heartbreak.
Can you imagine? If you can…I am so sorry.
It feels helpless watching people you love hurt so deeply.
I couldn't watch the news this past week because honestly….my heart couldn't take it.
I told this to a friend that suffered a different kind of heartbreak this year.
Her marriage truly teetered in the balance…..and she said that her heart can't even take the news now after all these months……it still feels so fragile to other people's pain.
I received an email from my friend Tara this weekend that told of her friend Gina that lost her husband last week from a heart attack.
Overnight she became a single mother to two boys.
She needs help now to support her children.
There is suffering everywhere.
There is suffering across the ocean right now and there are people hurting all around us.
Please don't misunderstand me.
What has happened in Haiti is awful and life changing and heartbreaking and I am not trying to minimize it.
This week just made me think a lot of being the hands and feet of God.
Am I?
It is awfully easy to give money.
It is a lot harder to put my sorrow into action.
One of my best friends was recently telling me that a dear friend of hers lost her husband a year ago.
Some of the woman's friends had failed to really reach out to her after the death of her husband and she was so sad that because these "friends" didn't know what to do….they did nothing.
When I was at Brave Girl Camp a woman talked about losing four out of her eight children.
She talked about how when someone is hurting…..Just do SOMETHING.
So many people would shy away from her after the accident because THEY didn't know what to do or say.
She was already suffering and broken in the worst way…and now she was alone.
There are so many people that feel hopeless.
HOPELESS.
What could we do today that demonstrates to a hurting world that we TRULY are the hands and feet of God?
The amazing thing about helping others…is that it comes right back to us.
It blesses us right back.
I know we each know one person today that is hurting.
Don't stop giving to the huge disasters in this world…I just want to open my eyes to the hurting and heartbreak right where I live.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Lord, break my heart for the things that break yours".
I truly hope that my eyes are more open to the people all around me that could use SOMETHING.
For I was hungry
and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Then
the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:35-40
So true are your words Jeanne people forget the one’s closest I feel a sad start to the year as I too have friends that are loosing close family members, unfortunatly this is the cycle of life we all live in & we have to be strong for the people who are living.
Wow, Jeanne – thank you for writing this. Suffering and loss are the hardest things we go through as humans. Doing *something* is such a great encouragement and reminder to all of us because inevitably we will all experience this. Being there for someone will help *train* (if you will) those around you for that time you will need them. I love the verse at the end.
Sending you big hugs of comfort right now … pass it along to your friend in mourning. I can’t imagine. xoxo
Beautiful post, Jeanne. So true. It’s easy to feel helpless, but doing something, even if it’s small can have such a big impact, often more than we know.
So true, Jeanne. And I really do believe in those little everyday kindnesses, that over the long run really amount to a lot. And sometimes even those little things can be life-changing for someone. Plus it makes it easier to reach out in bad times when you’re practicing little kindnesses everyday, don’t you think?
Doing something is always better than nothing….that is definitely true!
if this doesn’t touch a person in the depths of their heart…nothing will.
so well said
did i ever tell you thanks for sending the link to the lady who died of cancer?
i’m so glad i watched it…such a wonderful reminder of the bigger picture.
thanks jeanne~
chasity
Oh my… I have chills from your post! This is such a true statement. I’ve always said that if every person could just do a little, we could conquer so much!
Have a wonderful day… I’ll be praying for those you mentioned.
Mikal
Wonderful post!
Thank you very much for sharing your heart and your words. I truly agree. It is the desire of my heart also to love and serve others and not just to care about them from a distance.
This is so in line with all that I’ve been feeling, for quite some time now. I believe that when we ask God to make us aware of the suffering around us, He will. And then, it’s up to us to get off our rears and do something about it! I have one very specific thing in mind that I believe Jesus layed on my heart to do this week…and I am determined to do it. It’s not a big thing, won’t require much $, just my time. And I think it will bless the recipient, but will probably bless me more. Have you ever heard of Nooma videos? We watched one in Sunday School a few weeks ago called “Corner” and I can’t stop thinking about it…and I hope that I don’t.
I admit I am sometimes guilty of not knowing what to do when someone suffers terrible loss. But I believe that even if our attempts are awkward and clumsy the intent behind them is what touches someone’s heart.
Suffering seems to be everywhere…and growing by leaps and bounds… and I wonder if my own suffering has been God’s attempt to remind me to rely on HIM for my needs. Instead of thinking I can handle things myself. Instead of feeling like I have everything under control.
I am praying for your neighbors who lost their baby. It’s just too sad to imagine.
Great post, Jeanne. Encompasses a lot of what I’ve been feeling lately.
So true. Sometimes we don’t know what to do and we wind up doing nothing. If we make an effort to be more aware though, we can make a difference to someone when they really need it. Thank you for reminding me 🙂
I read about her husband yesterday and it nearly broke my heart thinking it could have been me… and when you put yourself in someone’s place even for a second, you can’t go back and think about them with indifference. I’d say that it most likely the sweet message of Jesus’s love and I love that you posted on this! Wonderful verse at the end too.
Good post. My best friend and I were pregnant with boys (our first sons) unfortunatly she lost hers at 5 months. She has loved my son as her very own and the first three years on the anniversary of his death I would send her flowers and give her a call just to remind her that we still remembered his life. All the milestones that my son did (walking, baseball, saying “I love you”) left her in heart wrenching tears and all I could do was sit silently next to her while she grieved. Your right the hurt continues for such a long time and it’s so important to be there when everyone walks away.
Oh Jeanne, You have read my diary. I have been living brokenhearted for 3 years.Like I have shared briefly with you, we have been oppressed for a- season. It is weird people don’t know how to reach out… its like you live behind glass. The smallest overtures of kindness are like air. I feel every word you wrote… it is so true. My lesson is to partake in the joys and sufferings of others because that is what HE does. Well said sister.
Your sentiments are so timely.
this is real living, jeanne! i want to live like this. pray, but keep listening for ways to do, too. love you.
and doing it.=)
Wonderful post Jeanne. There has been so much loss lately…it is just overwhelming sometimes. I loved every bit of what you had to say. Thanks for saying it girlie.
What a wonderful post, Jeanne. Thank you…thank you for sharing these thoughts. It has made me ponder how I can better help some loved ones in my own life who are struggling with trials of their own.
Love your blog so much…
you are good with words, my friend! I love the quote, it inspires me, and I will go to prayer.
What a touching post Jeanne. Your words, “Just do something” were the words I needed to hear tonight. Today a friend at work got called away because her 17 yr old son found his father- her husband dead on the floor at home. Sometimes you don’t know what to say but that doesn’t matter. Just letting her know that I care is a start.
Thank you Jeanne. Your words were beautiful and I loved the scripture.
Lee Ann
thank you, thank you for this jeanne. While I try to practice what I preach, it can so easily be forgotten or pushed to the wayside in our busy lives. Your biblical and other quotes were just the ones I needed to hear today, as I draw nearer to the Lord, and outstretch my arms to those in need as well. I think your message should be shouted from the mountain tops for all to hear and heed.
Thank you….
xoxo, Tiffany
thank you! you have put into words what has been in my heart. beautiful post jeanne. thanks for incorporating the scripture into it too. we can never get too much of that. xo!!
i know who i will helping….or at least trying to help…showing we care. there is so much hurt all around us.
Beautiful post…and so true…
Blessings!
Jill
I have had several friends experiencing hardships at this moment. I am reminded of how wonderful the human spirit is every day by who aide and lift them up~
Bristol
Jeanne, Thanks for visiting my blog. I check yours out everyday. Half my Ipod is made up of songs I heard on your playlist! I’m taking your button to put on my site as I finally figured out how to do it.
Thanks again
Debra
Jeanne, what a beautiful post…and so true. I have always been one to help, even if it is just something small…I feel for those who have lost, in so many ways, and it always seems to affect me more then I know…even if I can’t give money, I try to give of myself somehow. Thanks for reminding me that even the small things do count! you are a blessing to me…
Jeanne, I am passing on your prayer on my blog … if I can touch one hurting soul – rather if HE can. Cancer touched my life in June and I was blessed enough to heal and see Life and treasure it’s bits and pieces. My prayers, like yours, hope to help ease a moment in anyone’s day. With Love and prayers, Jennifer
beautiful and so true. we can all do something to help, with so many people hurting and in need. i know i had a hard time watching the tv this past week, sometimes i just can’t take the heartbreak. have a nice week jeanne.
I love this sweet and trueful post! Thanks for sharing with us.
oh yes…i agree…my mom died suddenly when i was 23 & i know that the truth is you don’t even have to SAY anything, just be there…hugs, food, your presence & knowing that someone cares is the difference between getting up & laying in a puddle some days…my husband’s best friend died unexpectedly in july & he is having such a hard time…& every week he says ‘should i call (his friend’s wife)?’ & i say ‘yes! even if you don’t know what to say, say that. she needs to know that other people miss him, too. still.’ & so he does, even though it is so hard to do…i always love your words, my dear…always they go right to my heart 🙂
Wonderfully stated! Sometime we get overwhelmed and feel that “the problem” is too big so we do nothing but my husband quietly reminded me the other day to start to make a difference one hurting soul at a time!
Excellent post, Jeanne!! very well written …
Gena
Vintage Rose Studio
and
Thinking Aloud (a photoblog)
beautiful post, my heart was so touched by this and you summarized everything i’ve been thinking this weekend,
xo,
LuLu
You are so right. This year when the accident happened on the Taconic and the Hance family lost all of their children on a sunny summer afternoon, their 3 beautiful little girls, I was just undone. I kept thinking about them and how quiet their house must be, the holidays, the things Mrs. Hance used to do for the school PTA and so on. I sent them prayers every time I thought about it and still do. I so love that Bible quote you put into your post. Thank you!
That is a beautiful post.
Give your friends my love. My son was born with many problems and expected to die any day. He was with us 7 months. I wouldn’t give up a second of it for anything. And if I only knew how good he has it now, I wouldn’t wish him back here. I can’t wait to join him in the presence of the Lord.