I've been thinking about this post for a while now and I'm just gonna type. I remember when Michael first lost his job it was so humbling having to accept help from others and from the state.
Side note...we are almost completely off state assistance....isn't that the goal! Zeke still receives WIC and the kids have state medical as their secondary medical insurance and the boys get free lunch at school. Those couple things are still so very helpful right now, but we are so happy we've come far enough to not need EBT. It was fantastic when we had it, but I love that we can now "stand on our own two feet" per se! I remember when the guy at DSHS had to tell me that we were no longer going to be receiving EBT. He seriously looked scared to tell me. Like I was going to rip his head off or something. It's sad that he is used to that type of response. He looked at me like I had two heads when I said...."Okay that's great!" That was the goal we were working towards from the moment we went on state assistance.
Anyways....
From that humbling experience I learned a very important lesson. If someone wants to give you something, do something for you or buy you something whether it's the gift of food, clothes, dropping something off for you so you don't have to use your own gas, watching your kids or the awesome priceless gift of time....just smile and say, "thank you!"
I know it's hard to receive a gift like that especially if you are so used to taking care of yourself or if you feel like you would be putting someone out, but for the most part people wouldn't say they wanted to do something if they didn't want to do it. Now they might not be jumping for joy or anything, but that's not the point they offered so take them up on it. If they are the kind of person that says stuff and doesn't actually mean it then they will figure out really quick that they should be careful with their words.
The blessing of someone saying, "Yes....I'll watch the kids for you" or "Oh sure I can drop that off at the library" isn't necessarily all about you! Yes they are blessing you, but they are also receiving a blessing as well. And if you deny them that, by saying, "No that's okay I can take the kids the with me" or "No I'll just drop it off tomorrow" then they are missing out on something great! I'm not saying it isn't blessing you as well, but it truly is a two way street.
I absolutely love blessing people with these types of things especially watching other peoples kids. I'm not saying that watching other peoples kids is my favorite thing to do, but knowing that I'm blessing another mom with time is so worth it! Most of the time when I do watch other peoples kids it ends up being a blessing to me in regards to my own kids. They get to play and have fun and seriously sometimes I barely see the kids they are playing so well. I've always said it's easier the more you have! I've also been on the receiving end of this so many times and it truly is priceless. To be able to sit at the doctors office and not have to try to entertain 2, 3 or even 4 kiddos in an 8' X 8' exam room is such a blessing. Or to be able to go out to dinner with my husband and not talk about kids or responsibilities or even if we do talk about those things at least not be interrupted 500 times by children....oh man that is so wonderful!
My Pastor did a sermon just yesterday about how the body of Christ is supposed to come along side each other in community with one another. Now that doesn't mean that I need to actually live in your community. It does make it easier, but as believers we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are supposed to see a need and help. Now you might not be the person to be able to help with a particular need....I wouldn't know how to fix a clogged up sink, but I certainly know someone that can. Jesus came as a servant and we are supposed to be servants too. I love serving....it's just part of who I am. I would say yes a million times and then I'd run myself into the ground so I do have to be wise about what I say yes to, but I love to serve. I know that there are personalities that don't love to serve, but God has called all of us in our way to serve.
My point is when someone...your friend, your neighbor, your mom, your husband, your brother, a newcomer at your church...anyone offers to bless you....smile and say, "thank you!" The blessing is for you and them so don't deny them that!
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