I got a call last night from a lady in our congregation that I haven't met, but she got my number from one of our Relief Society presidency members. She called to ask if I could take her and her baby to the doctor today. She has apparently hurt her back and can't lift the baby.
I told her that I would do that, and we made a plan for today.
Normally, I welcome the opportunity to serve, especially my neighbors. But I find myself being very protective when I get calls like this too. See, we live backed up to a set of about 4 buildings of four-plexes which, at times, rotate residents faster than I change our family's sheets. Sometimes we get backyard neighbors that we wish would buy a house in our cul-de-sac and stay forever with us. Others, we can't wait to see the moving van arrive.
In the past, maybe because I get to be home during the day and not work (that is, not for a paycheck signed by some faceless corprorate entity--but I digress), I get quite a few calls for help from these neighbors in the apartments. More often than not, they tend to take advantage and even use the system the church has set up to help one another. That is the part that has made me a bit on edge when calls come, and they always do.
If I were really a "GOOD" person, I would just open my arms to help anyone who needed it. In fact, I should be out looking for ways to help. But I don't. I'll probably sit the eternities in hell because I have had such a bad attitude about these apartment neighbors. Perhaps, you good friends could just make a plan now to bring me a diet coke with ice every now an then as I am sure Heaven will have ice and diet coke, and anyone in Heaven will WANT to share with me.
I will take this lady and her baby to the doctor today, but I will have my self-preservation mind set on and when I try to exercise more charity, but I may not like it immediately. Good thing I get to keep trying to get it right. This is one I really struggle with and don't seem to be learning to overcome very quickly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Your attitude probably would have been better if we hadn't already made lunch plans!;) You're a saint! If you ever need an excuse I'm available-you could say you have to help me and honestly help me to get a diet coke! Our nieghborhood is so lucky to have you!
At least I know I might have some company in hell because (thanks to caller ID) if I get a call from someone I have found is one of "those" type of people to use me, I don't take it and usually leave my house for a couple hours. So, you'll have some company in hell. Chocolate is sinful. They should have that there, right?
Post a Comment