Let's flip the switch for a minute. How many times have we gotten stuck on ourselves and our problems, that place where we think,
- The world is so unfair
- Why is life so hard?
- Why does it seem I'm the only one going through a rough time?
Sometimes we can get so caught up in this kind of mental funk that we forget that those around us are going through a hard time. Sometimes we just need, even for a minute, to stop. Step outside of ourselves. Pay attention to the world around us. And do something, no matter how small, to lighten someone's load. It's about perspective.
It's amazing what happens when we help someone when we're feeling helpless.
Think simple. In terms of those around you, send an encouraging text to a friend. Take time to listen, really listen, to another. Make some chicken soup for someone who is sick. Instead of blabbing on and on about your problems, find out what another person is going through. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Pray for someone instead of always asking that person to pray for you.
There are so many things that you can do for other people on a daily basis in order to lift them up. You might not know if that person is having a rough day or a great day, and performing a random act of kindness will lift their spirits right up. I was doing some homework in the room the other night and one of my friends texted me and asked me if I needed anything from the grocery store. Like how nice is that? Buying groceries is not fun for most college kids and my friend offered to buy me some things that I needed. I am not saying you need to go out and buy people things. There are so many other things you can do. Encouraging texts are the best. We are on our phones all the time. Why not text somebody some encouragement or just text somebody to check in on them and to see how they are. You can do that in less than a minute. Even just to hear that someone is thinking of you is one of the best feelings or even that you crossed someones mind. I'm not asking for these but for anyone who has ever sent me a text about the blog that means so much to me. I love to hear how God uses it to encourage and uplift people. If you're ever affected by it, don't hesitate to tell me. It's not for my glory but for God's.
Check this out: A study done by Emily Ansell of Yale University School of Medicine offered, "Our research shows that when we help other we can also help ourselves...Stressful days usually lead to us to have a worse mood and poorer mental health, but our findings suggest that if we do small things for others...we won't feel as poorly on stressful days. So apart from feeling good when you do something for someone because it is the right thing to do and it is how Jesus would act, studies show that you health and mental state will be better. I want you to remember though, you shouldn't do good things for other people just when you have a bad day to lift you up. You should always try to do good things for other people. Do it for God, not for yourself.
Ralph Also Emerson said, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." We do this be reaching out, by finding a need, however small, and filling it. It doesn't matter eat person we do this for; friends, family, or total strangers. What matters is doing something outside of ourselves. When you are doing something outside of ourselves, you are loving others and that is being obedient to the greatest commandment. "Love one another."
~ you are loved ~
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