“Look
for the Helpers”
By
Tracy Smith
“..not
looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:4 (NIV)
It’s been four years since the
Boston Marathon bombing. I remember finding out about the bombing and seeing story
after story on the news. After the tragedy, it was so hard to continue to hear
the awful details of what happened that day. It was so very sad. Through
Facebook, I was reminded of a quote by Mr. Rogers:
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,
my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find
people who are helping.'"
Those were the stories I focused on
and the stories I continued to read and watch. Over and over again, you would
hear stories of people running towards the
danger to help others - - with no regard for their own safety. You heard
stories of runners finishing a 26.2 mile run and continuing on to local
hospitals to see if they could donate blood, and average citizens giving first
aid in order to save a life. Boston locals stepped up in many ways also:
offering a place to stay for stranded runners, feeding them and offering the
use of their phones to runners that were lost after being diverted off the
course of the marathon. Amazing.
Those examples showed how people
responded in an extreme circumstance. What can this look like in our everyday
lives? Luke 3:10-11 (NIV) says this, “‘What should we do then?’ the crowd
asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who
has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’” We can do this by
looking out for people in need, and when we see the need, try to find a way to
meet it.
There are so many options:
volunteering at a non-profit that helps those in need, helping an elderly or
disabled neighbor with yard work, offering a glass of water or a cup of coffee
to the person fixing your washing machine, giving a frightened child a hug, or
just smiling at the cashier who is having a rough day. The opportunities are
endless, if we just take the time to slow down and look. I hope someday that
someone remembers me as the helper who made a difference.
The next time the news shows
something scary happening, take the time to look for the helpers.
GOING DEEPER
1. Is there someone in your world
who needs a helper? If so, are you willing to pray regarding what you can do to
be a helper?
FURTHER READING
Along
with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant
at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.
