Let's see in the past year alone:
a woman lost one of her sweet twins, born too soon;
a mother of three small children has died;
a married man of over forty years was widowed;
a man rented out his home as he hopes to get back on his feet after health problems and a lack of work has crippled him;
a mom has miscarried;
an older couple deal with the return of their grown daughter's breast cancer;
and now:
a ten-year-old boy dies unexpectedly.
This all within a two block radius.
Two blocks.
I don't know why I didn't see it sooner.
Your little neighborhood is a mission field.
My friend texted me this when I asked for prayers for the little boy's family.
She is SO right!
Just two weeks ago I lay in bed asking my husband how he felt about a mission trip instead of an extravagant ten year anniversary trip.
He wasn't exactly on board with that idea for now. . .but this?
Our little neighborhood is a mission field.
 |
| The kids find each other easily to play; we must find our neighbors to pray. |
This, I am sure he will want to help. Now.
How can we not?
There are simple things we can do to reach out.
There are yards to rake, meals to make, bread to bake, and gift cards to purchase.
We can make the effort to send a card, make a phone call to check in, send a text message, look them in the eyes when we call out hello and offer ourselves, our time, and our hearts.
I am feeling called to do some type of grief counseling with the teens in the neighborhood who loved this little boy who passed away like a little brother.
I've worked with teens before; I've run a grief group for kids before;
Not sure what it will look like--but confident it can be done.
My mission field needs me.
Your mission field needs you.
Go out of your house and really pay attention to those around you--
the ones who are suffering in health or spirit.
Use the gifts He gave you.
Find your mission field and let Him use you.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.--1Peter 4:10
oh, so much has happened in your two block radius. may God be glorified through you and your family.
ReplyDeletemay He show Himself to be tangible to so many hurting people.
we recently moved, but after 6 years of asking to move. i discovered however that God had us where we were to reach out to a neighbor boy. to be Jesus with skin on to him. what a beautiful relationship grew. he moved away suddenly, but not out of my heart. i pray for him continually, and have great Hope of how God will rescue Him and bring Him into abundant life.
You are absolutely right! If only we all lived with this in mind. And let's not forget, as moms, our children are also part of our mission field!
ReplyDeleteFound you through the blog hop, stop by when you get a chance :)