Help!

We live in a selfish world. How often have you gone to pull into a parking space and someone zoomed in before you could? What about the speeding vehicles who just barely miss the front of your bumper as they pass you at full speed on the highway? It’s even evident in our children who fuss and fight to get what they want.

These are all good examples of the general world, but what about us Christians? We’d all like to think we’d be there when we hear the call of the Lord, right? Wouldn’t it be part of the nature engrafted to us by our Savior after salvation? Yet we are all guilty of being selfish.

Have you ever promised to do something for someone but didn’t do it? What if it was something that didn’t really matter–to you, that is? The book world us Christian writers live in can be as cut throat and full of broken dreams as the rest of the world out there. So many of us have felt the slice of an agent who promises to respond and never does. We’ve experienced those who straight out tell us our work isn’t good enough. And I’m sure many of you would agree that we’ve inflicted wounds on other Christian writers, ourselves. The reason: Selfishness.

Well, this is a call to arms. Let each of us do what we say we will do. Let’s be more kind. And, let’s work a little longer and harder for the good of others. Help those around us.

I had a writing buddy help me this weekend who didn’t have to. But what she did for me enriched my life, furthered my writing career, and directed me in a matter I could not have figured out on my own. I send many blessings her way. Even if I didn’t, God would surely see fit to reward her for her kindness.

I want to be like that for other writers. To be an encourager, to reach out to others is what we are called to do by our Savior.

Can you remember the last time you took an extra step for someone else? How about the last time someone helped you? It feels good whether you’re the giver or the receiver. Be a giver this week.