Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5: 11 AMP)
My granddaughter, Emily, looked at me when I put the phone down.
“That was a friend who lost her husband recently. She’s having a hard time.”
With no hesitation, Emily said, “We should make her some cookies.”
“That’s a great idea. We can do it tomorrow when your sisters come.”
The following day Ashlyn and Molly joined us and were anxious to help. Emily announced to her sisters, “You’re better at making cookies. I’ll make a card.”
While I got out the ingredients, Molly carried the stool to the counter so she could reach the bowl. She and Ashlyn broke eggs, added each item, stirred the dough and placed mounds of it on the baking sheets. When the oatmeal chocolate chip ones went into the oven, Ashlyn finished preparing the oatmeal walnut ones.
Molly and Emily set to work in my office. With an array of paper, foam shapes, and decorative punches, they each designed a card. Emily searched for just the right Scriptures to add to hers. Molly included stickers and scalloped edges on her yellow paper.
When they finished, Emily handed me her creation. The card would certainly lift the spirits of someone who was grieving.
“This is for you,” Molly said as she handed me her card.
Her unexpected kindness touched me. Hearts, stars, and loving words decorated it. That card also comforted a grieving widow.
Between rain showers, we hurried to my neighbor’s home. The doorbell rang. We waited and waited. After another ring, we waited more and were about to leave.
The door opened. My surprised friend looked at us.
“My granddaughters made something for you,” I said.
She beamed. “Thank you so much. What are your names?”
The girls answered. She thanked us again and we left.
We agreed that we brightened her day and felt good about serving.
At church that morning, Pastor Matt explained that we should be like a pipe so that the Holy Spirit could flow through us. Many things can clog us up like anger, unforgiveness, self centeredness …With a clog, we can’t let the Spirit through. That day we were not clogged and worked together to comfort a grieving widow.
Later that evening, my friend sent me a message. She said she was having a hard day and then we came. When she told her sister-in-law about our visit, she asked how I knew she was having a bad day. She said God must have let me know.
Later, I learned the delicious cookies had been eaten and the card rested on her coffee table. She read it over and over to herself and to several people who called her. We had no idea the act of kindness would spread so far.
How thankful I am that Emily started our little service project when I told her about my friend’s hurt. What a blessing to learn and serve with my loving, compassionate granddaughters!
Because we noticed a need and were obedient in fulfilling it, our pipes allowed the Spirit to flow. Not only was my friend blessed but also those of us who helped and those who heard the story.
Father, help us be an open pipe so that you can flow through us. Amen
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