The courage to care…

Showing up takes courage. It is much safer to sit behind the barricade and watch life go by. I long to live safely, it is among my greatest values. Except I also long to be known, to be understood, to be loved. I believe everyone else does as well.
The people I admire most are those who climb out from behind the barricade to create safe spaces for others.

A mom who creates space for a precocious son to be seen, heard and valued.
A nurse who leaves the comfort of the medical office to teach.
A social worker who sees the people others prefer to ignore.
A homeschool mom who makes her children’s education the center of her life.
A grandmother who takes time to nurture creativity and wonder in the little ones.
A Pastor who wades into the fray in people’s lives.
A business man (or woman) who works with integrity and humility.

These are the people who inspire me. They give me courage to show up, to reach out to the hurting, to slow down and recognize the pain laying just beyond the surface. Once when I was volunteering at a women and children’s home, my friend encouraged me to be sure to look into the children’s faces. She knew my focus would be on their mothers, but didn’t want me to miss this moment. The eyes of those children broke my heart. It is easier to not look, not notice, not slow down…
Showing up means I make a commitment to love… to risk getting hurt. Life daily offers the chance to see, to care, to engage the hurting world around me. I spent much of the last year thinking and praying about how I can be useful, about my calling, about how I might fulfill my purpose. None of that is really clear yet, but I have learned a few certain things.
Today I have opportunity to serve. To climb out of my safe place and offer a word, a touch, a moment of kindness to another. The commitment to create safe spaces for others is messy work, but it connects us and heals us. When we open the door for honesty, humility, and authenticity there is both great risk and great power. Safe spaces don’t always fix things, but they always allow us to know we are not alone. And that’s not nothing!
As I lean into the Words of life I find that it is not so much what I do but how I do it that really matters.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col 3:17

This is part of a 31 day writing challenge. If you are interested in following along, you can find the rest of the series here. Thank you for stopping by!