My son came home from school a few weeks ago and told me he and a friend had read through my posts and although he did not care, they noticed he had not been mentioned in any of them (I am sorry buddy!). It was unintentional, but I thought a good first post for the new year would be to reflect on helping others, and finding joy, as those are traits he possesses.
I’ve heard when someone offers to help you, and you say “no” you are blocking their opportunity to bless you. For me, asking for help is typically the last thing I want to do, but I also know that I enjoy helping others, which I’m sure is the same for someone who is offering to help me.
As we are almost a month into 2025, what are some ways you helped others in 2024? What are some ways you can help others in 2025? Galatians 6:10 (NIV) says: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers”. Some of the reflection questions at the end of Chapter 12 focus on ways we can make others happy and how we can use our strengths and experiences to help others while serving God.
In a video featuring a speech given by Denzel Washington that I show in one of my classes each year, Denzel suggests the most selfish thing we can do is to help others because we get a good feeling of gratification from doing so (“The Most Selfish Thing You Can Do”). Although our motive for helping others might not be gratification, we get to feel blessed that we had the opportunity to help them.
Today, I spent the day with my beautiful mother, helping her with things around her home. The last three months have been eye-opening for me of the importance of cherishing every day with our loved ones and have also been an opportunity to embrace the feeling of joy that comes from helping others. I enjoyed the time I spent with her today, and had she not accepted my help, I would not have had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with her.
Three months ago, when I was driving back to my hometown on the way to the hospital, the sun was setting on one side of the highway while a full moon, that almost looked like I could reach out and touch it, was on the other side of the highway. It was God’s perfect timing that night, with the beautiful sunset and full moon. I have driven that drive hundreds of times at sunset and have never seen anything like it. Seeing the beginning of night out one window and the ending of the day out the other window reminded me, in that moment, that at any given time, we can experience sadness and joy (light and darkness), and it is acceptable to still feel joy for one thing and sadness for another at the same time.
Feeling joy for something doesn’t mean you do not care about the situation you are grieving at the same time, but, like the sun and the moon being on either side of me, as life moves at such a quick pace, we often have joyous and difficult situations simultaneously. I think one reason the significance of this setting resonated with me so much that evening was because I had received a phone call (for the reason I was headed to the hospital) and five minutes after I had hung up the phone, a dear friend, who was pregnant, texted me with miraculous news that all looked well with her ultrasound.
I encourage you to take time this year, whether it is daily, weekly, or monthly, to reflect on ways you have been helping others. Embrace the moments spent helping others, and spending time with loved ones, because those are moments we won’t regret, and they are opportunities we can never get back once they are gone.
Before I close in prayer, I will end with a story of my son. It is hard to believe it has been five years since the pandemic. One day, during that time of chaos and confusion, I walked up the stairs in my home, feeling the exhaustion of balancing work and home schooling, to find my son sweeping the kitchen floor without being asked. He looked up when he saw me and said, “I just thought you could use some help”. It was such a sweet gesture, and I appreciated his thoughtfulness. He reminded me of the joy he brings to my life each day, even on the difficult ones.
Now, to close in prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I pray over the person reading this. I pray you guide them to know ways they can use their gifts from you to help and serve others. I also pray, when they need help, that you guide others to help them in their time of need. In Jesus name, Amen.
“The Most Selfish Thing You Can Do… ” Youtube, uploaded by Motivational Extreme, April 10, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pvFELAGtJc&ab_channel=MotivationalExtreme
Scriptures marked (NIV) taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan. com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
