Helping Hands
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Just me on Monday, May 17, 2010 10:45 PM
My sister stopped by briefly this morning to drop some stuff off, and I could see that she was upset. Her mouth was compressed, and I was sure that her eyes were red behind her sunglasses.
She brought a couple small items into the house and I ran out to grab the other item, a heavy box, out of her van. I peered at her boys in their car seats and immediately diagnosed the cause of my sister’s distress. Her 22-month-old looked back at me calmly from his seat, but her three-and-a-half-year-old’s face was red and blotchy with tears on his cheeks.
I have a three-and-a-half-year-old, so I know: they are exceedingly lovable, but they can also get on their mamas’ last nerves. My sister is 26 weeks pregnant and was spending today grocery shopping and preparing for a visit from some of her in-laws. The last thing she needed was temper combustion with her elder son.
Now, I often have Daniel stay at our house for a couple hours on Mondays while my sister grocery shops, since it’s much easier for her to do with only her little guy in tow. Today, though, I hadn’t offered. I had no good reason, I’d just been feeling lazy and thought I’d go easy on myself. Branwen’s always very grateful when I do watch Daniel - she certainly wouldn’t fault me for skipping a week.
But seeing my sister stressed was the impetus I needed to make me do the right thing. I leaned in to the van a little further and said to Daniel, “Hey, buddy! Do you want to stay at our house for a while?”
He immediately brightened and chirped, “I promise I’ll be really good!”
He was good, too, all the way through until dinner time, which is when I ended up dropping him back at his own house. It was more work for me than watching only my own children would have been, and Daniel has a talent for mess-making that far outstrips Camilla’s. But the two of them are best friends and love the chance to play together, and it was a good day.
I got rewarded, too, in the grateful hug that Branwen gave me when I brought Daniel home. She looked rested and happy, and I was glad I’d listened to the better part of myself and made the generous choice.
The whole thing has me wondering, though. How often do I miss a chance to lighten someone else’s load because I’m not paying attention? Also, this was a pretty easy favor to do, and I got the reward of my sister’s appreciation. What about generosity that takes me farther outside my comfort zone, or that is thankless? I am not doing well in that regard. I think I need to pray for guidance and wisdom in this area.
Wow, lots of food for thought just because my nephew happened to throw a fit in the car this morning! I wonder if I should thank the little guy. But I bet his mother wouldn’t thank me for that.
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