Before sharing what I’m going to share today I decided to really take my time. The moment occurred early last week when a family friend came over with her daughters to encourage Amy. While Amy and our friend spent time together upstairs I had the privilege of playing with two of her daughters downstairs. My own children had spent the night with a couple from the church and I had some time to just relax and enjoy someone else’s little people. The girls wanted to play the Wii (video game console for those older than 40 without children) and so we popped in a racing game and got them going. The older daughter was fairly adept at handling the game but the three year old needed help so she plopped down in my lap and together we put a whippin’ on big sis. A little later I went up to check on Amy and discovered that she and our friend were having a great time upstairs chatting. I lingered around the kitchen for a few minutes and got preoccupied with some paperwork when I noticed a little figure standing silently next to me waiting for me to look her way. The precious little girl grabbed my hand and looked at me, the man who had left her without assistance in round two of the race, and with a heart-melting innocence and said to me,
“I need you to help me win the race.”
We were back downstairs in ten seconds going at it again with all our might to gain the checkered flag. The whole time we were down there God was impacting my mind as He reminded me of my simple task in the Kingdom. I have been put here to help people win their races. I’ll take it a step further and say that this is also the reason you have been placed here on earth at this time. I’ve said before in this blog that God has no need to be ministered unto. He lacks nothing, needs no help, is not seeking counsel, never needs correction and has never requested assistance so that He can accomplish His infinite desire. No, God is not the needy one. Yet we do minister unto the Lord by serving people and this is the bottom-line purpose that should color our lives. Unlike that beautiful little child in my kitchen, not everyone is going to approach you, take your hand in their own and gently tell you that they need your help if they are going to win. They shouldn’t have to tell us that. We must become people of greater awareness and endeavor to find those around us who can be benefited by our sharing of our lives.
Call somebody today and encourage them – this will help them win.
Exert some effort and produce one of those random acts of kindness – they will feel appreciated.
Find a child who you are unsure is being loved lavishly and do something on their behalf. Don’t over-complicate it. It doesn’t take much to be heroic to a lacking child.
Forgive someone in your life who may be hamstrung by guilt for having failed you. Set them free so they can run again. If they can run again, they might win again.
What I’m saying is that, when my life had become very complex, God sent a precious three year old to remind me of why I’m here. I’m not Superman…but I am God’s man…and He wants me to come alongside of some…so that they will win.
How Our Lord used your writing to touch my heart tonight. There is always someone who needs us to help them win if we just keep a watching and open heart for them. I am up in the wee hours because of strep throat and coughing caused by sinus infection so that is why I am reading at such a strange time. I am thankful to be able to think about who I can help when the rest of the world is awake.
Wow!!! This is a beautiful and touching message!!! Thank you.
Thinking of how God used you and your preaching ministry to help me win… I was bound by my past and your ministry helped me break free and win! Thanks!
You made me smile this morning. With all of the chaos of having my three at home this summer..work being done on the house…and me trying to do things for a job…..the frustrations can mount far too quickly but a smile or a hug or simple “I love you, daddy” often recenters me. God has allowed this season for me and it includes some incredible time with my kids. Not many working parents, much less fathers, ever get this opportunity to spend time with their children 24X7. I thank God with every prayer for this time and these children who are each a miraculous gift from God. Each one has the clear hand of God imprinted on the timing and perfection of how they came into our family and how they are growing into the people they are to become.