INSPIRASUNS

One of the best parts of my job is those times when parishioners just stop in to my office to say “Hi” or to catch up. Yesterday was one of those days.

Mid-morning, after the weekly Bible studies, the chair of our building project committee stopped in. He wandered in and said, “Morning, Kim, I thought I’d just stop by to say hi and see how things are going”. He sat down, and we had a wonderful conversation. Even though I’ve known this man for many years, this conversation was more relaxed. We laughed about many things, discussed the building project, and even the weather.

Not long after, another parishioner, a man who, when I first started in my position, was a wonderful resource for landscaping questions, popped in. I worked with him my first year to understand what different trees and plants were, how to care for them, when to cut them back, etc. I haven’t seen him in awhile so it was nice to catch up. We too had a wonderful conversation, chatted about the campus and the landscaping, of course, discussed the bench that he and his wife donated (it has a beautiful plaque on it now), and yep, discussed the upcoming cold front.

In each of these cases, the conversation was easy, and I came away from both of them just feeling good. They were a bright spot in my day.

Oftentimes, it’s easy to feel bothered by interruptions; there is so much going on in the day, you just feel like you don’t have the time to stop and talk. Yesterday showed me that those little conversations are important, not only to those who are stopping in, but more importantly to me. They help me to be closer to those around me and help me to just be there for others. We can’t very well follow Jesus’ instruction to “Love others as I have loved you”, if we don’t communicate with them in some fashion.

So friends, today, when the opportunity presents itself, take time to listen to that person stopping by. Even if it’s not planned, even if you feel like you’re too busy, stop and take a moment to be present. Enjoy the conversation, lend an ear, share a laugh. Or, maybe Father has brought this person to you to just listen and pray with them. Whatever the situation, recognize that you are in that moment for a purpose 🙂 .

Have a great day, friends. Continued prayers for the return of sweet Emily Rea.

James 1:19
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.