INSPIRASUNS

Yesterday my husband came home from his morning bike ride. I had just gotten home from the Frog, made my cup of coffee, and was headed to my desk. He had this smile on his face and was kind of shaking his head. I asked what was up. He asked me if I knew one of our neighbors around the corner, “Do you know a guy around the back side of the circle named John”. I asked if he was a little taller, with grayish hair with a Scottish accent. “Ya, that’s him”.

Now that we had established who John was, my husband proceeded to share the events that had just transpired. When my husband came around the corner on his bike he saw John trying to haul an old filing cabinet to the curb. Yesterday was trash pick-up day by the way. John was tugging and shoving, then would stop to catch his breath and he’d tug and shove some more. My husband stopped and just asked, “Do you need a hand?” John looked up and in his Scottish accent, asked, “What?” 🙂

My husband got off his bike walked over and simply said, “Can I help you move that to the curb?” “That would be wonderful”, John replied. So, my husband suggested pulling the drawers out of the cabinet, and, “the thing was still heavy”, but they managed to get it to the curb. My husband stacked the drawers next to the cabinet and asked John if there was anything else he needed help moving to the curb. John said there wasn’t just the cabinet. My husband wished John a good morning and then headed back to his bike.

What happened next is what had my husband smiling when he came in the door. He said that John stopped him and shook his hand and asked, “I didn’t catch your name”. “My name is Bob, my wife and I live just down around the corner”. “Well Bob, you didn’t have to stop today, you could have just ridden on by. Thank you for taking the time to help an old guy who isn’t as strong as he used to be.” My husband simply replied that it was his pleasure and asked John to let him know if he needed help in the future, “I’m happy to give you a hand”.

How many times have we just ridden on by when someone has needed assistance? I know I’m certainly guilty of this. An elderly person needs help getting groceries to their car. A mother is balancing one child on her hip, holding the hand of another child, and trying to pay her bill at the fast food restaurant. A tourist is looking at a map and you can tell they are totally lost, no one stops to ask if they need help. These are just simple instances where it’s so easy to pass on by. But, what would happen if we didn’t pass by? What would happen if we simply said, “Do you need a hand?”

I believe that helping each other is part of who we are. Even though the world is pretty crazy right now and everyone is busy, distracted, or whatever adjective you want to insert here, it doesn’t change the fact that we all need assistance at some time. I guess what I’m suggesting is we STOP and recognize those times. Lend a hand when you see someone struggling. Open a door for someone whose hands are full. Unload the groceries of that elderly neighbor who is leaving the grocery store. Wheel the garbage can back up the drive for that lady across the street who is battling cancer.

Father asks us to love one another as he loved us. Jesus performed miracles every day. He’s not asking us to perform miracles just to love one another, and lend a helping hand when it’s needed. So next time, don’t just ride on by, stop and ask, “Do you need a hand?” 🙂

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?