Be Refreshing!

The road we live on is a small, rural road with a few twists and turns. The country road is lined with telephone poles which are very close to the road. There is one spot in the road where the road take a shift and a telephone pole is right there, very close to the road.  That shift could easily take you by surprise and allow the vehicle to drift into the pole. I have a 16 year old new driver and am aware of things like this!  But, someone else is very aware of the danger of this portion of the road and put some reflective tape on the pole which alerts drivers at night and makes them aware of the pole.

As a mother, I am thankful for the person who did this.  They saw a need and spent time and effort to meet that need. There are numerous needs all around us. Many that we can do nothing about. But what about the ones that we can?  It doesn't need to be a huge need, just one that we become aware of.  Proverbs 3 tells us "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so." Translating it means....if you can do something about it...do it. 

'In the power of your hand' puts the responsibility on us. It is a perfect balance of ownership and diligence. It is not overwhelming, but empowering. Often we are quick to say within our self what we cannot do. Needs are vast all around us.  Most of them we cannot meet. But may we never excuse ourselves from doing what we can do. 

Doing good takes some diligence and being intentional.  It takes an eye that seeks the good of others and always is alert for opportunities to do good. It doesn't have to be huge.  Sometimes a smile or kind word (which is in most everyone's hand) is what is needed. A good deed or listening ear can be valuable gifts that do good at the right time.

Jesus describes a 'living water' that flows from the heart of a Christian. It is an influence that is contagious, that is refreshing and since it points to the source of all things good - Jesus, brings newness and great love.

David Jeremiah shares..."Here is an image we can visualize.  As you move through your day, meeting people and tackling jobs, see the people around you as thirsty ground and imagine a river of refreshment flowing from you to them. Be a refreshing person today. Let the river of God's Spirit stream through you."

May we walk through this new week  with eyes open to do good no matter how small or how large. Be refreshing!