Help...

Many years ago I went to visit a friend in another state.  We spend the day running around downtown.  On the way home someone was broken down on the side of the road.  The friend stopped to see if they could help.  My friend's neighborhood reminds me of that song, "Where I come from it's corn bread and chicken..." and down home folks who all know each other...  Um, nope, not where I come from.  Where I come from you just don't pull over to the side of the road.  Why?  Because people actually do get car jacked, and mugged, and killed...etc.  But it really makes me sad that it is like that.  My husband forbids me to stop and help anyone.  Not because I don't want to, but because he wants me alive tomorrow to raise our broad of children.

But with all that said, road side assistance is not the only way that we can help in this world.  There is so much that we can do.  We can volunteer, give to local charities, help at a soup kitchen.  We can work through local churches that have out reach programs all over the world.  My church and the local Catholic church have had a loving, working relationship with each other for years.  Recently they had a need for extra peanut butter.  It has a long shelf life and is a good source of protein that does not need refrigeration.  I think when they asked us they were hoping for a few dozen jars.  But word was spread through out our 5 local congregations and over 1,000 jars of peanut butter were collected.  It was so simple, such a small thing.  But for someone it will make a big difference.  I told my husband, I am not taking generic (we sometimes eat generic brands)...I said, just so you know I am getting Jif or Skippy.  Because if it was me...that would be a comfort to see that Jif label.

So, although I won't be helping anyone change their tires on the major highways of our busy state, we can all make a difference.  It might be as little as a jar of peanut butter.  It might be listening to a friend that is struggling with a child.  It might be letting our spouse vent about work.  (My sweet spouse often lets me vent about my job...24/7 homeschooling mommy of five...God bless him for listening!!!)

My challenge to you is to think...how might I "help" someone.  Look at the word in more broad terms...help could be so many things.  Be conscious...and look for ways to help!  You might be helping already and not even realize it.  My friend that was really struggling last year...was such an inspiration to me...she was a huge help in the development of The Butterfly Project.

You are amazing!  But sometimes we are our own worst enemy...STOP THAT!  Be kind to you!  And help!

Changing the world...ONE letter at a time!