A Heart for Others

I have beautiful granddaughters – all of them. Each have their own particular gifts and abilities, but one is particularly beautiful with a quality of sensitivity. She is aware of what is going on in the dynamics of a group together.

I watch her give comfort to one who is feeling low. To another how she includes them in a boardgame or another activity that the rest of the grandchildren are doing. She is the one that offers up the last piece of cake, offers up her time to help others, such an example to all that she meets.

This is described so well in 1 Peter:

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

1 Peter 3:8 NRSV

When things go wrong, she is extra sensitive to feeling hurt or disappointed, but she does not hold grudges or want to “get back” at someone who hurt her.  She often expresses to her parents or grandparents “How can people think or behave like that?” It does not enter her mind at all to behave any differently but with generosity.

 This sensitive granddaughter is behaving like the rest of this scripture in 1 Peter. It describes how Jesus would want us to behave:

Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 NRSV

We are also taught in Ephesians:

…be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 NRSV

I hope she never loses this sensitivity as she grows up. May the Lord continue to bless her with this gift of love and affection for her fellow man. May she use this same sensitivity to listen to the Lord.

May we follow her example.  I know she is only eleven years old, but God has graciously given her this gift, and all our gifts are given to us to be used for ourselves and for our fellow man. No matter our age we should be open to learn from the little ones and hopefully the little ones will learn off us how to act like Christ. We all learn by example. The question is  are you being a good example to others and are you open to learning from someone else?

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you experienced a time where someone noticed you in a crowd? How did this make you feel?

Are you someone who notices when others are in need? What do you do when you notice?

If this is not your gifting do you recognise other giftings that you put into practice which contribute towards loving others?