The Narrow Way

With each mile I drove, the level of damage increased. Just two days earlier a strong storm with winds up to 75mph had whipped through 16 miles north of us. The storm hit us too, but not nearly as severely as there. Big trees were down on every property and power and electric trucks scattered about working on downed lines. I was headed to a friend’s house to drop a meal, as they were without power and had sustained great property damage.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” Matthew 7:12

For a few weeks God had been repeatedly whispering that verse to me. The more I listened, the more opportunities I found. It wasn’t all big things like making meals, it was in communication, in thought, in attributing best motives to people who hurt or let me down. What would I want? If couldn’t cook because I had no power, a meal would be a blessing. If I’m having an off day and unkind to someone, man, I hope they’d give grace for that moment. The list goes on…Jesus said “whatever you do for one of these you’ve done for me.”….

Just a few weeks ago we had a mini crisis. Our storage freezer had gone out. By the time we noticed, items were beginning to defrost. The clock was ticking before everything would be destroyed, an estimated $500+ worth of food. 😰 Our usual sources of help were out of town, sick, and unavailable. What now? I quickly made some calls hoping to find someone to stay with our small kids while my husband and I ran to get his parents’ freezer from their storage unit. After some discouragement, a yes—a friend who was willing to drop everything and come. 🙌 She showed up within 15 minutes of my call, her girls still in pajamas and unfed. I hardly had words for her selflessness…

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35

This wasn’t the first time someone has come to our rescue, but this time, it really struck me, perhaps because for some time now that verse “do unto others…” has been rattling around in my heart. Yet just as great as my appreciation was for this friend, my heart simultaneously sank when thinking of the ones who couldn’t, or wouldn’t. 😔

When I arrived at my friend’s house, I had to fight back tears. I had never been to her homestead before, but the devastation was evident. Trees and power lines down everywhere, their property seemed especially hard hit. She had gone 41 hours without sleep trying to get help for their family and animals. Without the road getting cleared and some downed trees removed, there was no way to restore power. They were able to use generators for their freezers and some other key items, but were otherwise at the mercy of their network.

“I can’t do much, but I CAN make a meal,” I thought after seeing her pictures and plea on Facebook. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to pull off, but I felt compelled. I have a 1 year old who insists on being held and a very active 3 year old. But that phrase “do unto others,” kept echoing, as did our mini-crisis just weeks before. “I will find a way,” I thought, 🤔 because it’s what I would hope someone would do for me.

The night before I thawed meat, boiled noodles, did what I could to prep for a meal for 10 people. I took the baby to the store with me, then I was able to get some help from my mom with both kids while I chopped veggies. Little by little it all came together, in fact, it was faster and smoother than anticipated.

Tears filled my friends eyes. They’d been through a lot and it was far from over. She was exhausted and emotional at the help God had sent. Not surprisingly, there were folks she thought would help, that didn’t, or couldn’t, you never really know…😕 Then there were people she didn’t expect, who showed up 😭😇🙌

“Do unto others,” I shared with her. We chatted while the sound of chainsaws and tractors joined the smoke in filling the air.

The truth is, God sent help. He met the need, for both me and my friend. It isn’t always who you expect or think it should be, but when WE choose to “do unto others,” it doesn’t have to be. We can choose to attribute best motive those who never show, and move on with praise and thanksgiving for those who do.

What these past few weeks have reminded me of is something my favorite missionary, Heidi Baker, says “love has teeth.” Loving, caring for, serving, doing, interacting with, all of these words are verbs. They are “doing words” that dare our actions to match our words. The verses I shared, they’re living active verses. To “do” unto others as you’d have them do unto you, you have to DO something!! To be known by your love for one another, it must take form!

James goes so far as to say that faith without deeds is dead. Dead. ☠️ 😳 Not malnourished or slightly lacking, dead. Without life. Motionless. Inactive. Fit for the grave. 😳😕

I can’t say I always have this perspective, being aware of the opportunities in each day to “do unto others,” but I can say it’s challenging and changing me. Do I want to do my moms dishes when I’m at her house? No! 😂 It’s not a desire for most of us to do more work. 🙈 But when I’m there sometimes it hits me, what would I want? Then an overwhelming “yes” resounds in my spirit. Yes, I want to bless my mom and take the smallest task off her plate whenever I’m able.

Let it be known—I’m not sharing this because I’m so awesome 🙈😂 I promise. More like I am seeing how far short I fall as well as how a good God places opportunities for giving in each day. And that’s beautiful 🌺 Because the truth is, as inconvenient as it always is, as much as I want to be lazy or be the one to be served, I find SO MUCH more joy by doing the opposite of what I feel.

And while it is not by our good deeds that we work our way into heaven, it IS our good deeds that evidence our relationship with Jesus Christ. As we seek and submit to God, He deposits more and more of His character and will into our lives. We may miss the opportunities, but thanks be to God He gives more chances—more grace—kind nudges and compulsions to do more, give more, love more, and serve more.

This is getting long so I’m going to end with this reminder, in as much as you’re able, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This Christian life is active, not passive. I challenge you to take that verse to heart and allow God to remind you of it as you DO good works that He has prepared for you in advance (Eph 2:10). Allow Him to remind you to extend the measure of grace to others that you’d hope they’d extend to you. At the end of the day, He’s got you covered through a multitude of people. His network far exceeds yours. Trust HIM to meet your needs through whomever responds to HIM. At the same time, BE that one who is willing to respond and be His expression of love when someone needs it.

We can not always do great things, but we can do small things with great love. And in all that we do, do it as unto the Lord. Amen?

As always, thanks for stopping by.