Today.

I’ve decided that I am going to post something every day. For the next week, maybe month perhaps, I don’t know. But I figured if I write it down, make it public, then maybe one of you out there can hold me accountable to it.

Thoughts I’d like to share today? I came across this great new blog (I think it could be what inspired me to start blog again!) and I wanted to share something with you. Side note: I’m not ready to share the actual blog… I don’t want to divulge my sources just yet.

This blogger was interviewing a woman, Nicole, who works for an organization that helps christians get plugged in to helping public education reform. And there was a lot being said of how too often we as Christians get caught up in the “issues” and this one specifically about how we’ll point the finger about how a public school isn’t doing x,  is teaching evolution, or we don’t like them because we can’t pray there anymore, etc. (I know this is a huge topic, schools, but that isn’t really my point.) Stick with me…

Nicole’s  job and goal is to help churches partner with local schools for better school achievement and equality and when asked what was a good example of this being done, she said this, “One of my favorite stories is a church in Southern California whose pastor became burdened with educational inequity. He and his staff did a little internet research to identify the lowest-performing public school closest to their church. The pastor reached out to the principal and requested a meeting. In that initial meeting the church leadership simply said, “We are from a church about fifteen minutes from here, and we see that some of your students are struggling. How can we help?” The principal was taken aback, but mentioned that the school needed new computers so they could provide more robust instruction for students who were lagging behind. The pastor went back to his large congregation and raised an offering of about $50,000 for the school. Not surprisingly, the principal was blown away—and incredibly grateful. That, as they say, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. The church held appreciation dinners for the teachers, and they began tutoring students and truly getting involved in the life of the school. Through their actions, this church demonstrated God’s love for the students, their families, and the teachers. And, in the midst of that, the students received additional support to improve their academic achievement.”

Being from Southern California and all, deep down in my heart, I was hoping maybe that is our home church she is talking about. I don’t know, and don’t really have a good way of knowing. But the biggest thing that caught my attention, was how this church went about partnering. They stepped in and asked, “We live close by, can see you struggling, and how can we help”.

So simple.

Why do we make it so complicated? And why, so often, do we “help” with things that perhaps don’t really need helping?  I wondered to myself, when is the last time I have seen someone struggling and ever so sweetly and politely asked the same question. I’m afraid it’s been a little while. I’m not going to be able to help a whole school, but what about my neighbor? Or another mom I know who is trying to accomplish some task and could use a hand? I bet we help out others, but how often is it after we have asked them what exactly would they like help with?

My point? I found myself inspired. Just when I feel like I need a little encouragement and inspiration. To go out and help someone-but not how I think they help but rather asking what they would like a helping hand with. What a concept.