Recently, a dear friend told me a story about a difficult time in her life and a prayer that was answered.

She said she was having a very challenging health problem that was causing her constant  pain to the point of anguish. She had done all that she and her doctors could do and she was in the window of trying to be a patient patient.

At some point, as she prayed earnestly for relief, the answer came to her simply, “Do something for someone else.”

She of course took the heavenly counsel and got busy fixing a meal for a daughter who was sick. And, if I am remembering her story correctly, that became a turning point in her healing. {I have been blessed with some amazing friends and I hope you have been too!}

It’s easy to get our minds into an inward spiral when we are suffering or purposefully narrowing our focus to deal with some issue in our lives. And sometimes we certainly need to batten down the hatches and focus on one day, or even one hour at a time.

But along with focusing on getting through and finding the solutions to our own problems, it helps to take breathers! And some of the most therapeutic and uplifting breaks are the ones where we are giving of ourselves to the needs of someone else. A fundamental doctrine of Christianity, service is enobling to the giver and the receiver! And we certainly need to take our turns on either side of the equation.

We run the risk of having our minds and spirits eclipsed by a problem if it becomes such a large part of our waking view that we can’t see anything or anyone else. So, next time you feel overwhelmed or worn out, see what you can do to turn your thoughts spinning outward, to see the need of a neighbor or friend or especially of someone who lives in your house. Your burdens will be lighter, your perspective more accurate and you will have invested in strengthening relationships that will add more hope and joy to your life and theirs, in the days and years to come.

I hope you are well my friend.

Love,

Jacque

P.S. Thank you for the parable Lesley. xo

P.P.S. Would you love this car? I would! I don’t know what it is, but I like it a lot!