Lately, I have been thinking a lot about helping. How do we help our kids understand and process what’s going on in their world today, (especially when the adults, myself included, don’t always know the right words to say)? In our “virtual” Sunday School class on Sunday, I asked the kids, “What is our job in the kingdom of Heaven?” and amidst the answers of “tell others about Jesus”, “be a good friend”, “help out around the house”, one student answered “try not to die”. This quite literally stopped me in my tracks. Children have an amazing ability to honestly and authentically give a name to what we are feeling, thinking and trying to understand.
There is a famous quote by Mr. Fred Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”” This is so important for children to know that they are safe.
But what about us? Who do we look to for help? What helps us as adults? How do we make sense of the world around us, the catastrophes, the unrest, the disasters, sometimes even the morning news? It’s essential to remember what helps you – because just like being on an airplane, you can’t help anyone else until you’ve put your oxygen mask on. If I’m being honest, often times my efforts to help go in vain because I’m flailing around the plane with no oxygen!
A few things that help me are:
• praying and walking,
• working in the garden,
• taking a break from news and social media, and
• quiet morning devotions.
These simple practices help to align me with the unchanging God of the universe who is also my Savior and Friend. How about you? Where does your help come from? What reminds you of His goodness and grace?
I look up to the hills.
But where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord.
He made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121: 1-2 (ICB)