DO: one thing
I started reading Cindy Beall’s blog back in the spring… Or was it winter? I’m not even sure how I got there, but I haven’t left. I can’t escape the grasp of her wisdom, sincerity, or care. She’s been through a lot, and she’s not afraid to be honest about it – for our sake. Cindy originally posted the following a few months ago. I immediately grabbed it and asked permission to re-post it here, for you.
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What if you did one thing nice for someone every day? Maybe you iron your husband’s shirt for him or refill his recurring prescription every month without him having to remind you.
What if you did one thing to help someone you don’t even know? Like when those people try to speed up when the lane is ending and you really want them to LEARN THEIR LESSON but instead you let them in front of you because you are a good Christian and everyone knows that all Christians let people in their lane. (tic)
What if you did one thing to make the world a better place and no one ever knew about it? Say, like picking up litter in the park when no one is around to see your good deed.
That has been something I have been trying to do regularly. But I really focus on the third one…when no one knows. Because, you see, I don’t mind a pat on the back. I like the occasional atta girl. Doesn’t bother me one bit to get some kudos from another person.
And while there is nothing wrong me receiving that much needed encouragement, I pray my reason behind doing good things is not for the approval of man.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
One of the ways I serve Christ is by serving others.
Even if they don’t know about it.
One thing.
Every day.
Try it.
What have you got to lose?
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What’s one thing you can DO? One thing you can add to your life that might make a difference in someone else’s?
This is great because it implies great recompense yet it is clearly something any one person can do. Beautiful.
[I had to look up recompense in dictionary.com. I was too embarrassed to just ask what it meant... But, now, here I am - confessing!]
Cindy rocks… Man I love her…
I got blessed last night hugely…
my heart will never be the same again.
I say just do it!!
GIRL!
Tell me more about your blessing!
One thing I can do…for someone else…
…honestly, not much physically. I find many doing for me and it is very humbling.
I do pray and thank my Lord for so many loving people who are willing to serve. I do try to encourage others through His word. I do hope He is pleased with my heart and mind, since my DOing is so limited.
Thanks for the reminder to do for others…and thanks to all of those who “do” for me.
I am truly grateful.
“When we nurture ourselves and others without a primary concern of finding reward, then we will have become lovable, and the reward of being loved, which we have not sought, will find us.” From: Revovery Devotional Bible, By: M. Scott Peck
Just wrote a related post on this yesterday… weird, but cool.
http://sharingnotes.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-like-to-fly-under-radar.html
oxoxo,
Roxx
k…
For you girl…
I recieved a gift card for one of our local supermarkets, hushly I said thank you jesus for the little grocery reprieve. (my husband lost alot of hours on his job) So this will be a great blessing I thought. I went all day with it in my pants pocket, what will I make special??? etc.
I went to the church and I was driving there listening some jon mclaughlin and I was moved to give away my card. I got kind of ruffled…
but God we need it this time…. don’t you understand??
So I battled within my thoughts and more thoughts, as I pulled up, I knew the couple that were standing in front of me needed that card more than me and gave it to them.
What I didn’t know is this couple were on their last loaf of bread and their last liter of Dr. Pepper..
… She told me as she gave her life over to Jesus….
WHOA……….that’s God!!!
Michelle: I’m beginning to believe that Prayer is the MOST POWERFUL thing we can do for someone else… You, woman, can DO a lot.
Roxx: Without seeking reward – that’s the true heart of a servant! LOVE that! I need more of that attitude in my own life.
Heidi: OK seriously. I don’t even know what to do with that story. Holy. Freaking. Cow!
ummm..mmm.. me neither.. my hair is still standing up
Great reminder Mandy! I know Saturday we’ll be washing cars for four hours for free at our church. Free wash and then a free ice cream cone certificate. It’s awesome to think that a car wash may lead someone to Christ in the future! Thanks for the reminder to DO something each day! I’ll have to check out her blog!
mandy — i love miss beall, too! i can’t wait to meet her someday. and i remember loving this post the first time i read it, and this was a good reminder for me. thanks.
michelle — you should know that you’ve done A LOT for me already. the email from you that’s still sitting in my inbox awaiting a reply? that was huge. H-U-G-E. i will email you soon.
Less of me.
just read heidi’s story — God is so amazing! what He can do through simple obedience. why do i make it seem not-so-simple sometimes?!?! i need to just step out more. thanks for that nudge, heidi!
You are all amazing!!! I am blessed to be around to hear it all, to interact with all of you! This whole thing has just been amazing!
Thanks Mandy and Alece…you’ve encouraged me.
I’ll be honest with you. Right now I am so fed up with the loud boors and jerks living in my city, that I could care less about picking up thier trash. ( I live between 2 fast food joints and a 7-11). Not only that, but my neighbors seem to take pride in disgusting me, with thier junk and trash and boorish ways. I’m just fed up with humanity right now.
(
Maybe tomorrow…
Scavenger: I appreciate your honesty. I, too, have had times of such apathy that I’ve stopped doing… But, you know, I’m realizing the Christian responsibility we have. Yes, we should be motivated out of love, but we should also be motivated out of obedience. Out of a desire to serve God by serving man. When I’ve stopped long enough to remember that I’m REALLY serving GOD if I bless someone else, then my heart swells and rests in that act of service… I find a deeper reason to DO. So, maybe tomorrow. But, be careful to keep too many “tomorrows” from becoming “yesterdays”…
Jennifer: Cindy won’t let you down. at. all!
T: Thank you. I needed your enthusiasm today.
This is really kind of crazy for me. I have been reading here and there all these do things and you are amazing. I heart you Mandy.
Your mom hearts me.
“What’s one thing you can DO? One thing you can add to your life that might make a difference in someone else’s.”
A simple thing we can do to brighten the day for both ourselves and and someone else is to call up, reconnect, with an old friend, or member of your family, we haven’t spoken to in a long time.
Another simple goal is to try and making one new friend everyday. The world is full of potenial friends, such as a neighbor we have never talked to. All it often takes is just a smile and saying “Hi”.
i’m task driven…so doing is great…in fact i do a lot more than i need to, because delegation is a struggle…anywho…that whole part thrown in there about driving, did she have to go there???
This is my heart and what I live for. If I don’t DO one thing a day it makes me sad. Somethings are little and some are big, meaning they take extra effort and more stepping out of my comfort zone, but I can’t stop. Sometimes I have tried stopping because I feel weird or crazy. But God made me with a caring heart and when I live by the spirit I see Him work through me to bless others. Seeing that is worth it all. There are no words for how happy it makes me.
Ed: Interesting you say reconnecting. I have been doing some of that with family and old friends and it has been SO good for my soul.
You all are such a blessing, just pouring it out here aaand there!
How powerful. I am reading all this with tears of joy running down my face. I will be praying for you all!
A thing I have done for a long time is try to greet everyone I encounter by looking them in the eye, give them a big warm smile, then ask and remember their name.
At my age and experiences, it is purely God that helps me do it.
Sometimes I’m repeatedly met with frowns, but I continue. I try to remember: It is not about me. I am reminded that Jesus was not always received with rejoicing – He was hated, scoffed at, spit on, cursed and despised. Yet He never stopped or let it change Him. He just loved.
I can do no less.
The other is forgiveness, although I am the one that benefits the most from it….I call on Christ regularly to give me tougher skin and to let so much stuff go…forgive it.
Mandy you are a gem! So blessed to have run into you!
Everybody is blessing everybody here and now I am even more blessed and hope to bless someone else.
It’s a blessed day, I tell you.
Have you ever noticed though that some people may DO one thing just by BEing who they are? Like for example today at work I am in the presence of a lot of unfriendly people but there is this one lady who is so talkative and friendly and she doesn’t know it but she is DOing something right at this moment having her presence here-by BEing who she is. I just heard her laugh and it is so welcoming and comforting. Amazing how that can work.
if this doesnt inspire i dont know what will!
Mt: You remember that one day I requested Sing to the King and you sang it for me at Elevate? That was nice.
TJ: Yes. I do remember.
Girl I promise I have not had a break from DOing Something everyday lately it has been crazy yet so joyful!!!