Hey Singles ,
One thing that always seems to ring true in life is that no matter how bad your situation seems to be, someone else is going through something worse. And sometimes, it's a lot worse.
Do you ever feel guilty for being better off in an area or situation in your life than others? Does it make you feel compelled to take action or help another person?
This is something I've thought about often. Sure, we all go through our times of testing and trials, and like anyone else, I've been through some things. But there always seems to be someone, or sometimes several people I know who seem to get hit by one bad thing after another, even if they're a faithful Christian.
I know the Bible tells us to expect trials. But if you find yourself blessed in one area where someone else is hurting, how does it cause you to react?
For instance:
* You're healthy, but know several people are struggling with their health. I went to the doctor recently and for some reason, my system always reads as having overall high cholesterol. But this is because my "good" cholesterol is twice the normal recommended level (which seems to amaze every doctor I've been to.) I have a beloved relative who has struggled with cholesterol problems all their life, and whenever I hear this, I always pray that I wish I could give some of whatever it is about me to that other person.
I know so many people who are struggling with serious illnesses, I often feel guilty for having my health--or at the very least, I wish there was something I could do to help them or give to them to improve their state.
* You have a close-knit, happy family, but know several people who come from dysfunctional families. My own family has all the ups and downs of any normal family. But I know there are often times when I wish I could take my parents' love and give it to all the people who never had a mother or father who truly expressed love to them.
I also often ask God, "Why would you pick me?" to be adopted when I saw so many others who were left behind at my former orphanage? It's actually quite heartbreaking to think about and my response is to try to support the work of my old adoption agency. I just feel like God gave me this chance, and have a need (that can honestly border on guilt) to feel like I'm doing something in return.
* You have a job, when so many others are struggling for work.
* You have beautiful children, when you know others who are longing, hoping, and wishing everyday for a child...
The list goes on and on. What really made me think about this today was that I was taking some time after work to look for something I needed for my personal care. I was thinking to myself, the busy parent doesn't have the luxury of walking up and down aisles, carefully reading labels and spending some time asking the sales associates questions about the products. The busy parent is just trying to keep everyone corralled together in order to go home and cook dinner!
It made me ask God if maybe there is a busy parent in my close proximity that I can somehow help.
So often, we talk about what we don't have and someone else does.
But what happens when we are the one with something precious in our lives that other people don't have?
One thing that always seems to ring true in life is that no matter how bad your situation seems to be, someone else is going through something worse. And sometimes, it's a lot worse.
Do you ever feel guilty for being better off in an area or situation in your life than others? Does it make you feel compelled to take action or help another person?
This is something I've thought about often. Sure, we all go through our times of testing and trials, and like anyone else, I've been through some things. But there always seems to be someone, or sometimes several people I know who seem to get hit by one bad thing after another, even if they're a faithful Christian.
I know the Bible tells us to expect trials. But if you find yourself blessed in one area where someone else is hurting, how does it cause you to react?
For instance:
* You're healthy, but know several people are struggling with their health. I went to the doctor recently and for some reason, my system always reads as having overall high cholesterol. But this is because my "good" cholesterol is twice the normal recommended level (which seems to amaze every doctor I've been to.) I have a beloved relative who has struggled with cholesterol problems all their life, and whenever I hear this, I always pray that I wish I could give some of whatever it is about me to that other person.
I know so many people who are struggling with serious illnesses, I often feel guilty for having my health--or at the very least, I wish there was something I could do to help them or give to them to improve their state.
* You have a close-knit, happy family, but know several people who come from dysfunctional families. My own family has all the ups and downs of any normal family. But I know there are often times when I wish I could take my parents' love and give it to all the people who never had a mother or father who truly expressed love to them.
I also often ask God, "Why would you pick me?" to be adopted when I saw so many others who were left behind at my former orphanage? It's actually quite heartbreaking to think about and my response is to try to support the work of my old adoption agency. I just feel like God gave me this chance, and have a need (that can honestly border on guilt) to feel like I'm doing something in return.
* You have a job, when so many others are struggling for work.
* You have beautiful children, when you know others who are longing, hoping, and wishing everyday for a child...
The list goes on and on. What really made me think about this today was that I was taking some time after work to look for something I needed for my personal care. I was thinking to myself, the busy parent doesn't have the luxury of walking up and down aisles, carefully reading labels and spending some time asking the sales associates questions about the products. The busy parent is just trying to keep everyone corralled together in order to go home and cook dinner!
It made me ask God if maybe there is a busy parent in my close proximity that I can somehow help.
So often, we talk about what we don't have and someone else does.
But what happens when we are the one with something precious in our lives that other people don't have?