9, Here to help!
Taken from One Day at a Time: Meditations for Carers
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ONE DAY AT A TIME
Meditations for Carers
9. Here to help!
Matthew 25.35, 40
There are so many lovely people out there, kind and willing to help. And then there are the ones who say, ‘Do call us’ and, ‘We’re here to help!’ as they turn cheerfully away leaving you no better off than before. You know these were only empty words, uttered to make the speakers feel they are nice people. And they’ll be feeling better now – because they offered, didn’t they?
Many a time you’ll want to show what you’re feeling but it’s not wise. These people are impregnable in their ‘nice people’ armour and ear plugs. You’ll only make yourself feel worse. Try instead having a little list of simple tasks that you could do with somebody else doing and offer them an easy one, well within their capabilities. That’s right. Give them the opportunity to transform their words-only help into hands-
on help. You may be surprised and they’ll actually agree to do something. But even if they don’t, you haven’t lost anything. They have. And if you’re feeling particularly noble, you can make yourself feel even better by praying for them...
Taken from One Day at a Time: Meditations for Carers by Dorothy M.Stewart