WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY? DID I NOTICE?
As I lay in bed tonight after a long day of both physical labor (splitting wood), playing with a couple of younger grandkids, leading a small group in some marriage principles, and cleaning up a few dishes after we got home from the small group, my mind was racing. I thought of all we had done, but then considered a profound connection. Yes, even late at night it came to me.
I wonder if I am becoming too quick to notice what is not done to my liking versus taking note of the many things others do to show how much they care. I am particularly speaking about my family and even more focused on my wife of 51 years. Do I take for granted the many ways she shows me she cares and loves me, or am I on the lookout for more ways I want her to demonstrate love and care.
Since I was not about to fall asleep any time soon after having the racing mind, I decided to get up and write this article while it was fresh. If I waited until the morning it would probably disappear from my memory. So I am asking, “what have you done for me lately?” I am not asking in the usual sense of what you have done is not enough and I want more. No, I am saying that I want to take note of what she(my spouse) and others do for me “lately” to care for me. Then I have decided to make a special effort to say “thank you” or to let others know I notice and appreciate these acts.
I notice that my wife cooks for me (us) regularly, and so does our daughter. They share the use of our kitchen and prepare great meals that are specially designed to help us eat in a healthy style. They work hard at it too.
My son-in-law helps me with some of the work that needs to be done especially outdoor projects, and he lends a hand whenever I ask him. He even volunteers before I ask, many times. He and our daughter are rearing two little ones, and they stay busy, but not too busy to come alongside me as needed.
Our other daughter is quick to help me with ministry projects and is a real encourager. Her husband, our other son-in-law, is also available as needed and supports our ministry with encouragement and participation. They work hard at their professions, as parents. They are busy people.
Our son and his family are making special time available for visiting and getting to know our two new grandchildren. Though they live in another state we talk regularly and keep up with their busy life.
I can go on, but you get the idea. In fact, as I think about each of these wonderful family members even more ways are coming clear to me. They really do go out of their way to show love to me. I am so glad God placed this theme on my heart because already my heart is happier realizing that I can and will develop a more grateful heart and try to express thankfulness more often to them as well as to my loving Father in heaven. This doesn’t include the many other friends I could list who love us and go out of their way to show care.
I wish I had more time with each of them, more occasions to have conversations, to be close to them, to get to know them even more deeply. But, I know folks are busy so rather than gripe about what I don’t have or don’t get to do, I intend to make it a point to be thankful to God for what we can do together and where possible make more time available to them as they wish.
These wonderful family folks along with several friends do so much to show they care about my wife and me; perhaps now is a good time to actually notice “what they have done for me lately”!
And this article could be huge if I start listing all the ways Jesus loves me and cares for me! He certainly has and does. He loves me and cares for me personally and via His love expressed to me through others.
The picture of the hand at the top of the page is not reaching out to receive but to give back to those in need of love and care from me. I certainly have freely received; now it is my turn to more often “freely give”. (Matthew 10:8)