Grateful. I was walking down the street on my way to the train this morning and affirmed in my thought that I was going to be open to the opportunity to give. As I walked into the station, I held the door for a young mom pushing a stroller. I didn’t think much of it because I always hold the door for folks. But I thought about the beauty of motherhood and the attention that mother had for her child and walked with that as I passed through the turnstile.

As I rounded the corner, I saw that the elevator was being worked on and I knew that this mother with a stroller was probably planning to use it. I stopped and waited for her to catch up. I noticed the expression on her face went to worry as she saw the elevator and in that moment I asked if she wouldn’t mind my assistance carrying the stroller down. Phew! What relief came over her face. We pretended her son was flying down the stairs and we walked down and laughed and smiled with him the whole way. She was extremely grateful and it was awesome to be on the look out and to be able to help. It is amazing what the mental acceptance of service can do!

This seems like a small thing, but my roommate had left a bunch of dirty dishes lying out for the last couple of days. He’s usually pretty responsible about that kind of stuff but the last couple days he’s had to work late. So this morning before going to work I just decided to do all the dishes and clean the kitchen on my own. I certainly didn’t have to but it felt good!

Yesterday, I was in a very long checkout line at a store that was struggling to keep up with all the customers. I only had a few items and got into the express lane. After about 5 minutes of the line not moving at all, I asked God if I should move to a different line. The answer was to stay put and look for why I was there.

At that moment, te woman in front of me began to complain about the line. It drew my attention to how much she was holding. I had a mostly empty cart and offered for her to use the empty space. She was thrilled. She mentioned that she was in a hurry to get to choir practice at her church. I told her that I was going to a church meeting too and that she and I could pray that nothing could stand in the way of our desire to serve God.

She lit up again and agreed. Then she started to tell me of physical problems she was having. I told her I would keep her in my prayers so that she would feel better. She was so happy and thanked me. At that point she had gotten everything out of my cart and a new register opened. I said goodbye and moved.

I greated the cashier and asked how she was doing, which was followed by the fact that she had already worked her first job all day and was feeling exhausted and in pain. We talked a bit more, and as she handed me my receipt, I said, “If it’s ok with you, I would really like to pray for you.”

This dear lady looked at me like I had given her a present. She looked me full in the eyes and said, “Oh would you, please? Thank you so much!” She smiled, and the tension left her face and body. I promised I would pray for her and said goodbye.

I am so grateful that I asked God what to do instead of getting worried about the time or frustrated with the situation. I was so blessed by meeting those two women, and they definitely seemed better for the encounter.

I volunteer at a charity shop once a week. I really feel I was lead to the particular shop I help at; I looked at other charity shops, but for various reasons the first places I looked at didn’t work out, so instead I ended up at the shop I volunteer at. The people there are so lovely and the paid staff really appriciate the volunteers’ help.
I also often help my friends with their homework when they are stuck on it.

Abigail, it’s great to hear how you are consistantly serving your community and your friends. Really beautiful.

Sarah and Gordon, thanks for your kind words. Hugs to you both. :)

Nina, that soup sounds wonderful! I’m sure it was so welcome at your friend’s house.

I woke up this a.m. w/ that phrase, “…heart meets heart reciprocally blest…” It’s from the article Pond and Purpose in Miscellaneous Writings. It’s such a good way to sum up what I was feeling yesterday.

I volunteer once a week w/ an organization called Intercambio. That word means “exchange” in Spanish. They pair up teachers w/ students so that the students can learn English. But, more than that, their goal is actually to have community members exchange cultures and become more unified in their understanding and respect for each other.

I went to my student’s house yesterday and came out of there feeling so blessed. My heart was overflowing. We’ve been together three years and I know she appreciates what I bring to her, but I wonder if she knows how much I appreciate what she gives to me. Probably so, the love is so apparent on both sides!

Anyway, when I woke this a.m. and that phrase was running through my head, I knew it was about this thread. All of us who give, have come to realize that in our giving, we are blessed a hundred times over. “…heart meets heart reciprocally blest…”

This thread is so uplifting. Thanks!

I’ve been thinking about this lately and it’s definitely been giving my days a happy twist. The other day I brought a cup of hot chocolate to a co-worker in the morning because I saw that she had come in early which was unusual for her. She was delighted, and touched that I had even noticed her there!