Vacation Notes
Dear Friends,
One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned was to slow down and see needs. It’s unnatural for us in our busy days and lives to selflessly see other people and their needs. We are so concerned with our own schedules, stresses and agendas that slowing down to see other people takes a conscious decision.
It’s easier to see the needs of our friends – they usually tell us.
It’s easier to see the needs of the people we love – we have learned to read them, and at the very least we can typically tell when something is “off” or wrong even if we can’t figure out what it is.
But what about the random person you interact with everyday? The coworkers? The man holding a sign? The mom juggling kids and coupons in the grocery store? The hoodrat of a kid setting off firecrackers in the middle of your street? Is is our “job” to see their needs? To care about their needs? To sacrifice our precious time and too little resources to make sure others outside our love circle are ok?
Absolutely.
We have so we can give. We live so we can love. We have eyes so we can see. We have a heart so we can care.
Seeing a need is the hardest part. It requires us to look up, and truly see people. Seeing a need goes beyond pity or assumption and dives into someone’s life. Seeing a need has nothing to do with us being heroes and everything to do with us being noticers.
One of my favorite things about Jesus is how he noticed people within a crowd. Try as they might (and try as we might) there was no hiding from him. He saw and noticed people. Jesus had crowds following him, 12 men fighting to be closest to him and he easily could have walked through town to get to the next town, do his thing and keep going. But so many times in Scripture we see that Jesus stopped to hear from the person; he took time to look up into trees and notice people. Every time Jesus noticed a person he didn’t just wave and keep going – he really saw them and their needs and responded.
Who are we walking by that we need to stop and see?
So this week my challenge for myself and you is to slow our roll and notice people. See the needs. And then meet them. Meeting a need can be a simple swipe of a card, a hug around a neck, a note in the mail, a simple text – but to meet the need, we have to see it.
Friends – let’s be noticers this week.
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love this. love your heart. love YOU.
Brandi – Thanks for taking a risk so many summers ago to help me put into action all that I had learned in Nash. Pivotal my friend.
Jody, this is a good reminder that everyone is carrying a load that we can not see. You are super special to my girls and me. I am glad I found your blog.
Amy! You are and your girls are special to me as well. Your strength and the way you continue to look for ways to love others is top notch!!!
Well said Jody! The smallest gesture to you could mean the world to someone else, all waves start with a ripple. I’m so proud to know you and your heart.
Michelle – I so enjoyed our chat yesterday. Thanks for all you do for our community!