Love Does

All the cool kids are reading it, so I asked for a copy of Love Does by Bob Goff for my birthday. Little did I know, that only a few pages in, my life would be changed. Forever changed. Cliché, maybe. Truth, totally.

I would be challenged to alter my role from that of a planner to that of a doer.

"...it becomes clear that we need to stop plotting the course and instead just land the plane on our plans to make a difference by getting to the "do" part of faith. That's because love is never stationary. In the end, love doesn't just keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: love does."

I've said before, I am a planner. And sometimes, my need to plan, and consider all details - the who's and what's and when's and where's and why's and how's - derails an opportunity to be Jesus right then to someone right there.

I debated whether I would share this. I wholeheartedly believe the verse in Matthew that states, "But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing." I don't think we are called to give and tell. This life isn't a grown up version of the Friday preschool show and tell where we broadcast our works for our glory. But the Lord kept impressing on my heart to share this. To share how He is being glorified. To share how He uses the least of these to bring Him glory. To share love in action.

It was a freezing cold Thursday night. We had Baker in tow, as we met our realtor to view another string of homes.

We rerouted the order of houses we would view, as there had been a house fire in one of the neighborhoods, and emergency vehicles were blocking the entrance.

We saw a lovely four bedroom, three bathroom home. We oohed and aahhed over the features, and tried picturing our family there. We imagined Brian grilling in the backyard, Baker reading in the living room floor, me, shuffling throughout tending to this and that. But it wasn't ours, which we soon realized, so we headed to another.

As we approached the home, I couldn't help but notice the people gathering throughout the neighborhood to clean out an ash-ridden home, charred around the edges, smoke still billowing into the night sky. The smell clouded the air, and served as an ever-present reminder of this poor family who had lost their home, as we were trying to find ours.

By the time we had finished viewing the homes, it was even darker and even colder than when we began. And, there were even more people working diligently to clean out the home.

I felt a tug.

A tug to do something.

I sent my son and husband home to do our nightly routine - supper, books, bath, bed.

I felt another tug.

But this time it was more of a push. A push to do something for this family.

I circled the neighborhood. The planner in me stepping up. Could I go home and make coffee and hot chocolate and take cups with tags of scripture on them - ones that quoted Romans 8:28? Could I go make hotel arrangements for them for the night? Could I go buy them new pajamas so they would have something warm to sleep in? I played out at least 18 other scenarios in my mind for how I could minister to this family, who I had yet to meet. It was getting later. It was getting colder. I did something I rarely do, I told my planner self to sit down and shut up. The doer was taking over and the planner would have to hang on tightly.

I called the nearest Chick-fil-A and told them what happened - that I had been with our realtor viewing homes in the neighborhood, and knew a family had lost their home to a fire, and that I felt the Lord calling me to do something. I asked them to fill their biggest bag with warm sandwiches and cookies. Being the wonderful organization they are, they gave me a considerable discount. My eyes filled with tears as I got into my car, weighted down with food galore, covered in the prayers of the sweet CFA workers, and the thought of this family who would not be sleeping in their home, on their pillows. Who would not wake up to have coffee around their kitchen table, or pull their car out of their garage to go to school and work.

I prayed for them. My heart heavy. As I approached the home, I found the owner. I handed him the bag of food - sandwiches and cookies for him and for each person working alongside him. And then I asked him if I could pray with him. As I held his hand, I felt him, a strong man working tirelessly to do what needed to be done, crumble. I don't even remember the words I prayed aloud, but I am confident they were heard. I got in my car, and realized we never officially met. I drove away that night praising Jesus for the opportunity to be His hands and feet. Praising Him for the opportunity to do love.

As the holidays approach, I want to be a person who does love. I want to be the person Bob Goff speaks of. I want to be the person the Lord desires me to be. I want to be the person who brightens some one's day, who points them to Jesus, who offers hope, even if they don't know my name.

My friend, Courtney, offers some great resources for doing just this. Light 'Em Up 2013 is a way to minister to others - teachers, mailmen, garbage truck drivers, policeman, firemen, friends. She has printables and great ideas! I especially love the tags to attach to candy canes or a cup of cocoa. I challenge you to go check out her blog and be a part of Light 'Em Up 2013. I am going to go out on a limb and suggest, that while you are making a difference and spreading cheer, it will be you who is most blessed.

"You see, God usually chooses ordinary people like us to get things done."

Love Does

Be love. Do love.

Merry, Merry, friends!