Thankful Thursdays: Week 10

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You might notice that I’m taking it a little easy this week on blogging and social media.  It wasn’t planned, but as I unexpectedly went  “technology light” on Monday, it felt like the right thing to do for the entire week.

As I quiet my mouth (or my typing fingers I guess), I am taking time to open my eyes and ears to those around me.  I have been playing with the kids, intentionally looking into their eyes, capturing their laugh in my memory bank.  I have been enjoying the silence when they nap, using the time that I would normally spend on the computer to read or just sit on the back porch and rest.  I really feel like life slows down to a beautiful pace when I unplug for a bit.

I have a huge pile of books in my “to read” pile, but the first one I picked up this week was Kisses from Katie.  I can’t seem to put it down.  Not only is this book inspiring, but it is challenging.  In fact, I feel like it is challenging me to my very core at times as her writing echoes words that I am hearing from multiple sources all at the same time.  The challenge is simply this:  Is what I’m doing matching up with what I profess to believe?  Am I living out my faith?  Do my actions match my words?  The last thing I want to do is be another “comfortable Christian” who claims to know Jesus but fails to do anything He says to do.

Sometimes I just get caught up in my own comfortable life.  I think that happens to everyone.  But sometimes, even when I want to act, I stand paralyzed because the need seems too great.  What in the world can someone like me do to make any kind of a difference?

Then I realized, it’s as simple as this:

to begin, begin

When I feel overwhelmed, I need to remember that I cannot change the whole world.  But I can change the world for one person.  Our family can sponsor one child.  I can bring one hot meal to a hurting family.  I can teach one mom how to live a healthier lifestyle.  I can look on one person with love and mercy when all they have ever felt from this world is judgement.

I can do something for somebody.  

So today I am thankful.  Thankful for some unplugged time this week, and for the wise words of a young woman who is living out her faith in a radical way.  Thankful for the opportunities that I have to act out my faith, if I will only keep my eyes open to them.

What are you thankful for today?  Do you ever feel paralyzed by the overwhelming need in the world?  Are you a person of faith?  If so, how do you act it out?

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  • Lexie @ This Aussie Eats March 8, 2012 at 8:36 am

    How funny, my post this week is also about unplugging and being thankful that I took a step back from the internet 🙂

  • Susie B. March 8, 2012 at 9:23 am

    This is an inspiring post, Alysa! Today, I’m thankful for health and happiness.

    A week before Second Mile did the week of prayer and fasting I was feeling such a heavy burden for the children and families who are dealing with devastating loss. It did feel paralyzing, because I wanted to take away their pain but that is not possible. My faith showed me that my job is to pray for them, and walk with them, supporting them in this journey toward healing. Social work is the way I act out my faith!

  • Debbie March 8, 2012 at 10:38 am

    I’m thankful that I’m not alone in these feelings. Just finished reading Matt Redman’s new book, Mirrorball, and there’s a chapter called “Drops in the Ocean” about our divine purpose. Mother Teresa said, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

  • Thankful Thursdays: Week 12 March 22, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    […] at these facts is completely overwhelming, but like I talked about a couple weeks ago, I am not helpless.  I can help someone somewhere.  I can give from what I’ve been given. […]