Leave them better

I fell into bed defeated. It had been another one of those days.

You know what I’m talking about.

A day marked with perceived failure.

“I hope the girls look back on these years through rose colored glasses,” I admitted to my husband.

“Maybe that’s why the brain doesn’t retain too many memories before the age of five. A gift of God’s grace.” He laughed, understanding all too well my plight.

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.” (Acts 3:1-7)

My children ask a lot of me. Rightly so, I am their mother, after all. But they’re not the only ones asking.

And truth be told, sometimes it’s just easier to walk on by. Ignore the request. Stay on task. Because, frankly, I’m worn down and worn out. I have given, and I don’t feel like I have any more to give right now.

I’m all out of patience. I’m all out of energy. I’m out of time, money, passion.

Spent.

I cannot give you what you want.

But, maybe what’s being asked of me isn’t what I solely possess anyway.

Are we leaving people better than we found them? Our friends, our husbands, our children, our co-workers? Strangers, neighbors, grocery store clerks?

Everyone is asking for something. For love, for attention, for kindness, for grace.

We may not personally have a solution. The funds might not be available. Time may be short, or energy lacking. But we know of a better resource.

A well of Living Water that never, ever runs dry.

We are limited. We can only do so much. And while we can’t do everything, we can do something. Because we know Someone.

We know the God who heals and restores. Who is slow to anger and abounding in love. Who is rich in compassion and limitless in grace.  

The God whose love runs deep and whose mercies never fail.

He can do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine. And He will.

But we must show up with love and intentionality, doing our best to point others to Christ and leaving them better than we found them.

Today.