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Can you palm a $100 bill?

(You can practice on me)

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Kindness is quickly becoming a lost art. How do you enjoy being treated? I like dealing with nice people. I’ve had my fair share of grumps, but I much prefer kind souls.

I know of an elderly couple quickly approaching their 90s and there are a few things that are becoming difficult for them to do. The wife loves to cook, and is great at it, but just can’t physically stand and do all the prep and work necessary to allow it to happen.

The man can do a few things in the kitchen, but is forgetting how to do some basics. So they needed assistance.

Because of the wonderful organizations we have in our community, I always recommend them to people. Meals on Wheels is one of those organizations. 

This couple has been a hard-working, proud couple all their life and aren’t used to asking for help. I tell people, “Please let me help you now, so when I need help there will be someone around to help me.” (Remember the “reap what you sow” Biblical philosophy?)

So the Meals on Wheels person set up an appointment with this precious couple. Sure enough they qualified for assistance. But the lady was so embarrassed about it, and quietly asked, “Is this welfare or charity? We don’t want to take something that someone else needs.”

The precious staff lady said, “No ma’am. You’ve worked hard all your life and you have paved the way. Now we can serve you. This is not welfare. It’s our turn to take care of you.”

When I heard about this conversation, I had tears well up in my eyes. How precious of that worker to realize the type of hard-working, ‘don’t need anyone’s help’ generation this couple is from.

What will our society do, when this “Greatest Generation” is gone? 

Of course I believe in helping others and I believe in asking for help — when it’s needed. There are certain things I’m not good at. And most of the time, I realize that and ask for help. 

I love it that Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and Ye shall find.” Both of those statements are not “handout” situations. We have to realize the need and ask. Then we have to take the time to look and He will be glad to help us.

I’m sure I’ve worn out the verse by now, but just checked and it’s still in the Bible. Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

“All things!” God will give me the courage to invite someone to church. God can help me get a project finished on time. God can help me understand someone who is going through a painful situation and needs my listening ear. God can even help me say “no” to something I don’t need or shouldn’t do!

And it’s not just for “me.” I’m pretty sure if you look in a Bible, it will be there for you, too!

I love the term, “hand-up.” I know many people who just need a hand up. In my home church there was a man who was very generous and God had tremendously blessed his business. Jack Fife loved to be a blessing. He quite often palmed a hundred dollar bill (YES $100.) and then shook your hand and secretly passed it to you.

I remember we were a newly wed couple and he palmed some money to my husband. Wow. What a blessing that was. I don’t remember what we needed it for, but we were poor college students, so it was probably for something extravagant like FOOD!

That wasn’t a put down to us. He wanted to pay it forward and invest in our life and ministry. As we just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary, I am reminded of all the people who worked so hard to give us a beautiful wedding — they invested their time in our lives. 

See who you can invest in this week and offer a “hand up.” I'm sure God has someone in mind that needs your encouragement. Remember to be kind. We all need a hand-up ever so often.

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