“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35 (NIV)
I enjoy mowing our yards. We used to have someone come over and did it for us until I told my husband I truly enjoyed doing that. That was my exercise in a way! He cautioned me so as not to hurt my neck (I had an old injury) and he would rather do the chore but I insisted, telling him that as long as I wouldn’t carry heavy things, I was only pushing the mower, not carry it, so my neck should be fine.
At times that my husband is so busy at work like this past week where they have been concentrating on arresting criminals, I want to do that for him knowing how he is. Despite his exhaustion, he never complains about doing some of the household chores, including mowing the yards.
So, this morning, there I was on a beautiful sunny day mowing the front yard first. I was almost done when a man parked his truck across the street and slowly approached me. Working in the prison, I learned how to be wary at all times so though I wasn’t looking up, I could sense his presence coming toward where I was and prepared myself for whatever that man would do or say. Until…I saw his shadow right in front of me and then, I looked up.
 |
| the flyer from the man |
I looked back at what I had mowed, looked ahead at the areas I still needed to do while avoiding the palm trees and other things I shouldn’t touch. I started the engine and with remaining strength, I pushed the mower and finished the whole yard.
“Thank You, Lord for giving me the strength to finish my mowing the lawn,” I prayed quietly.
As I rested and the thought of my on-going battle at work came to mind, people there had tried desperately to intimidate me and boldly had shown me their power to scare me and hoped that I would quit my job as a Correctional Nurse. I looked back at those times and knew that it was all a part of His plan, not theirs. I still didn’t have a clue on what lies ahead but it was His hand that quickly reached out to me at that time of need and any other needs. He provided me the strength that I would need to learn how to endure, be patient, and most of all, to continue to love despite the hate, the rejection, and other hurtful devices these people put in my way.
"Thank You, Lord for the strength You give me as I patiently wait for You...
And like my mowing to help out my hard-working husband can be my service to God, so it is with God making me a nurse in the prison to help the inmates and the staff's needs as well...I am not done. I will mow week after weeks, and my job as a Correctional Nurse is still not completely over because I will still work there for as long as He wants me to.I just pray that God will help me discern those circumstances or the people He puts in my path as my opportunity to serve. For Him...
I took a gulp of cold water and folded away the green flyer. I knew…I wouldn’t need that. For a very long time…
 | |||
| the yard after I mowed it |
May this song inspire each of us to not be weary in doing good...("And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9)
In My Own Little World (Matthew West)
Lyrics:
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me
I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
and I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
it's easy to do when it's population: me
What if there's a bigger picture
what if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world
Stopped at the red light, looked out my window
Outside the car, saw a sign, said "Help this homeless widow"
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, "God, what have I been doing?"
So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by
I gave her some money then I drove on through
in my own little world there's population: two
What if there's a bigger picture
what if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world
Start breaking my heart for what breaks Yours
give me open hands and open doors
put Your light in my eyes and let me see
that my own little world is not about me
