Since Friday’s news of the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the media’s been replete with horrific images and accountings of the terrible events of that day. The constant rehashing of such incomprehensible evil can quickly lead to despair and hopelessness. To combat those feelings, I wrote a list of the top ten kind and gentle things that happened in my life this past week. While they’re not sensational or newsworthy, they remind me that our good and gracious God is constantly at work, whether or not his actions make the headlines or 6:00 news:
10. A little boy who goes to our church gave me a smile and a big, wet hug at the swimming pool.
9. During our daughter and son-in-law’s visit, our new son insisted on doing the heavy lifting while he and Hiram hauled boxes from the basement to the second floor, fixed my clothesline pole, and cleaned the gutters.
8. After fire destroyed the local event venue where my friend planned to host her son’s wedding reception this weekend, the owners of a local car dealership offered to clear their showroom so the reception could be held there.
7. Arranging food for the family breakfast my friend’s hosting the morning after the reception took less than an hour because everyone I called was home and immediately volunteered to help.
6. When we suggested bringing our daughter’s birthday celebration to Mom, my brother and sister-in-law made it happen by graciously allowing us to invade their home and kitchen Saturday afternoon.
5. When my brother got home from purchasing a dozen ears of sweet corn at a roadside stand, he discovered the woman had given him 15 ears.
4. Ever since Hiram went back to work, his co-workers have been making sure he doesn’t strain his back.
3. During my daughter and son-in-law’s “vacation” at our house, she helped me wash windows. She also cleaned the house, and weeded the flower beds without complaint.
2. When the gas line on the daughter and new son’s car sprang a leak, the car repair shop fixed it in an hour and charged only $100.
1. A reader at my website emailed to thank me for writing a book about parenting kids with special needs. She then mentioned she’s Jake’s mom and the executive director of Caregiver’s Ladder, an organization with worldwide reach, which supports parents of kids with special needs.
That’s my list of the top ten kind and gentle things that made my little world rock this week. What’s been rocking yours and bringing you hope? Leave a comment.
