Helping people

When our son Kemper was three or four years old, we went to the beach with Michael’s parents and got to spend time with the extended family living in the area. One day we went out on a boat with a whole passel of cousins spanning several generations. The young cousins were talking about what they wanted to be when they grow up with typical answers such as, “a popstar, an actress, and a billionaire with lots of big trucks.”  Then they posed the question to Kemper, who said, “I want to help people.”   As you can imagine, my momma’s heart was full to bursting to hear my baby respond with something so innocent and kind. Clearly the episodes of Paw Patrol & Daniel Tiger were doing their jobs!As he has aged, Kemper’s response to the question has changed several times to include a scientist, and even a pastor (because, according to him, it looks easy). But I believe that thread of doing something that helps other people is still in his heart. Sometimes we believe to ‘help people’ we have to do something extravagant or widescale.  This type of thinking limits us as we become overwhelmed by the thought of meeting the dire needs of our world.As we move into fall and then roll into the holiday season, we will have multiple opportunities at NP to be God’s instruments in helping people in meaningful ways. We’ll collect items for Kingsway & Valley Mission.  We’ll fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  We’ll deliver gifts to our shut-ins and have our kids mail cards to the troops.  I want to remind us that these small gestures can make a big impact in our community.  So can mailing a card or making a phone call to let folks know you are praying for them. Dropping off a meal for someone who’s going through a tough time when you have leftovers counts as well.  So does picking up trash on your morning walk. So, this is just a small reminder that you are in fact helping each other in a hundred little ways already, and these efforts are what strengthens the community and reflects the light of Christ.  Let’s all consider it our jobs to ‘help people.’