Enough
It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important …
It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. -Mohandas Gandhi
In any moment of decision
the best thing you can do is the right thing,
the next best thing is the wrong thing,
and the worst thing you can do
is nothing.
- Theodore Roosevelt
Many times I feel internally paralyzed. On the outside I’m moving about doing what needs to be done. But on the inside … I’m completely stuck … paralyzed. Sometimes the paralysis comes from fear … other times it’s simply uncertainty. I am not positive about much of anything and so I don’t move forward. I do nothing.
When someone is having a hard time, and I don’t know what to say … I say nothing. But I don’t just say nothing … I also avoid the person so that there isn’t even an opportunity to say anything. This not only doesn’t help … but it has great potential to harm.
I have to get passeed this paralysis. I have to speak … I have to act. I must risk doing the wrong thing when the right thing isn’t obvious … but I must do something.
I may or may not see the results of my actions … but I must act.
I may or may not feel good … but I can do good.
It is enough to be like Jesus … so why not start there?
Maybe you feel paralyzed, but I see you acting plenty. It is enough to be like Jesus, and you are so like him. You work so hard for the kingdom….you do it beautifully! I see you encourage, I know your prayfulness on behalf of so many of us sinners, I’m a witness to your service…..you are a reflection of your Savior.
THANK YOU, MY SWEET FRIEND SARAH. YOU ARE GOOD FOR MY HEART.
I do exactly what you talk about….when I don’t know what to do, I avoid. I do nothing. And wouldn’t something be better than nothing? Jesus didn’t avoid. He touched. He spoke. He went.
It is enough to be like Jesus. I see Him in you. Thanks for being my friend.
THANKS FOR BEING MY FRIEND AS WELL. I HAVE TO REMEMBER THE SIMPLE THINGS JESUS DID … TOUCHING, SPEAKING, GOING. I DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE … JUST BE THERE TO LISTEN.
Oh Paige you are more like Jesus thna you realize. Like Sarah said she sees it in your service. Your an awesome person. You have touched my life in so many ways. I haven’t always told you but you have. Just by being who you are has done a lot for me. Thank you again for being my friend. And I know that I can always count on you even if it is fro prayer and nothing else. I need that so much right now. Miss ya
Cyndi
THANK YOU SWEET CYNDI. YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS, AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT I’LL HELP ANY WAY THAT I CAN. MISS YOU SO MUCH.
Paige, I have come away from visits with people who were going thru the wringer with a very empty feeling. I questioned whether my time with them was in any way helpful to them. Was anything I said encouraging? Did I talk around the most pressing needs without ever really touching them? Did I strengthen their hand in God? The older I have gotten…the more experiences I’ve learned from…the more I have determined to wade on out there where the issue really is. Most people make all kinds of allowances for my pathetic efforts and seem to be really appreciative that I came. The one question that I ask as soon as the time seems right (and there are ways we have to earn the right to ask it)is this one, phrased in any number of ways, “How’s your heart?” I’m pretty sure that I do more listening than speaking. I know that it isn’t easy. To enter into another person’s pain is one of the most difficult things for any of us to do. But as our hearts grow to be “loving hearts” there’s nothing else for us but to enter in as best we’re able. I’ve heard what sounded to me to be glib advice offered to a sufferer by a casual acquaintance and it had the effect of scraping fingernails on a chalkboard. Then again, I’ve heard the very same glib-sounding words offered in a different context to a beloved friend and they had the effect of the very wisdom of God. If we are able to speak easily at such moments, we probably ought to keep our mouths shut. If it is difficult for us to speak, then we are prepared to be of help. Of course, I plead with God to make me useful to the one in need.
This I know, from the heart you have revealed in your writings and that has been reflected in the thoughts of your friends who know you best, if I was in trouble, needing advice or encouragement or just a bit of comfort, a visit from you…or a note…or a prayer on my behalf would most welcome.
I BELIEVE YOU ARE RIGHT … ASKING “HOW’S YOUR HEART?” OR EVEN “ARE YOU OKAY?” THEN LISTENING INTENTLY IS ONE OF THE BEST HELPS ONE CAN GIVE. TOO MANY TIMES I THINK I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TALK A LOT TO BE OF ANY HELP. BUT REALLY … THEY’RE THE ONES THAT NEED TO TALK. USUALLY WHEN ONE SAYS IT ALL OUT LOUD THEY CAN SOLVE MUCH OF IT THEMSELVES.
YOUR WRITING HELPS SO MANY … I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU’RE EVEN BETTER IN PERSON.