Take Time For Others
Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. -- Philippians 2:4
It’s just so easy to get caught up in our own lives. Unless something impacts us directly or gets shoved in front of us, we put it off to another day. Then another. And another. We’re busy people, after all.
Too busy most of the time. I don’t know about you, but there are days when I long for a day off. Not a day spent doing “fun” stuff, though that would surely be okay. Just a day off with nothing to do and no one to please.
It’s a dream. I know that. We’re all too busy rushing through life to ever take a day off. And sometimes we’re too busy rushing through life to notice the people around us. To visit. To care. To take a few moments and focus on someone else.
Yesterday afternoon I went to the hospital to visit two dear ladies. I didn’t have time. I have orders overdue and demands on my time. My car isn’t feeling well and getting there and back was iffy. But I went anyway because it was what I felt called to do.
And I’m so glad I did. It’s amazing how caring about others can renew your spirit. But isn’t that how it always works? We give to others and we end up getting the blessing.
It doesn’t have to be visiting those in the hospital. Some dear friends are active in our church sports programs. I think they have more fun than the kids. Sure, there are children in need of role models and a foundation of faith in Christ. They get that -- right along with the laughter and plenty of time to tell my friends about themselves.
Another man spends every Tuesday evening at the county jail. He laughs that the first two years he participated in this ministry, he begged God to get him out of it. Now 20-plus years later, the inmates look forward to his visits. No section of the jail is off limits because he’s there to offer Christ to anyone and everyone. And they know that.
Caring for others. Getting out of ourselves and reaching toward those who are hurting or in need, those whose lives are in shambles or those who just need someone to listen. Everyone wants to believe that there’s someone out there who cares about them.
We are a busy people. And, frankly, our society seems to grow more and more self-involved every. But we have a choice too. We can choose to reach out and touch the lives of those around us. We can choose to show the love of Jesus to others, making time, taking time, to care about someone besides ourselves.
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