![\"helping-hand\"](\"http:\/\/www.karen-gustafson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/helping-hand.jpg\")
<\/a>hat difficult for him.)<\/p>\nThe essay was about compassion and\u00a0described two events.\u00a0 The first was a woman who gave a homeless man a dollar from the bottom of her purse.\u00a0 She gave it begrudgingly; as if she was annoyed that she felt like she needed to give.\u00a0 The other was a\u00a0bakery shop owner who gave a warm cup of coffee and a bag of bread to a\u00a0homeless man\u00a0on her doorstep.\u00a0 She gave openly and graciously.<\/p>\n
The assignment given to my son was to write about these events from the perspective of the homeless men.\u00a0 How were they feeling?\u00a0 What could they have been thinking?\u00a0 How did they receive the gifts given to them?<\/p>\n
As we talked about the answers to the questions, my heart broke\u00a0over my\u00a0selfishness.\u00a0 I was acting very much like the first lady.\u00a0 Yes, I thought community service was good idea and I’d make sure\u00a0my son participated, but I was\u00a0not doing it from a place of generosity or even kindness.\u00a0 I was going to do it begrudgingly.<\/p>\n
Ouch!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Where was my compassion?\u00a0 Where was my empathy?\u00a0 Where was\u00a0my\u00a0love?<\/p>\n Over the last few months, there has just\u00a0been a lot going on.\u00a0 It caused me to turn much of my focus on myself and my immediate family.\u00a0 That happens sometimes.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes we have those seasons where we need to focus on ourselves or those closest to us.\u00a0 Maybe\u00a0its a death or health issue.\u00a0 Maybe its getting your marriage back on track or going through a divorce.\u00a0 Maybe its dealing with teenagers who are making poor decisions\u00a0or an addiction.\u00a0 For me, it was a move, four kids graduating, and a\u00a0new season of life beginning.\u00a0 It was all I could do to keep up with everything, including what\u00a0was taking place in my heart.\u00a0 I needed that time of inward focus; time with my family; time for my heart to make adjustments.<\/p>\n But things are normalizing now.\u00a0 And God is telling me it’s time to start looking out again.<\/p>\n So I went with my son to his first event.\u00a0 The school, along with other agencies were giving out fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and b I have to say, though, I was so glad I went!\u00a0\u00a0 It was wonderful to work side by side with the other volunteers who came.\u00a0\u00a0Some were\u00a0students, some were faculty, some were volunteers and\u00a0employees from the\u00a0partnering organizations.\u00a0 \u00a0All were joyful and helpful even in the blistering heat of the day.\u00a0 It was so good to be looking 0utside myself again!<\/p>\n I’m thankful that God gave me the precious time He did so I could focus on my family.\u00a0 It’s\u00a0one of my greatest\u00a0treasures.<\/p>\n But now is the time for looking out.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I’m not sure what that will look like.\u00a0 I’m not sure what things I’ll do.\u00a0 But I’m excited for the\u00a0new things I’ll notice;\u00a0the new adventures I’ll take; the new people I’ll meet.\u00a0 I’ll keep you posted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My son’s\u00a0college is trying to make the students more aware of things going on in the community.\u00a0 To that end,\u00a0as part of his English class, he is\u00a0required to participate in some community service work aimed at hunger and homelessness. Now, … Continue reading <\/a>read to families in the community.\u00a0 All they had to do was drive to the school to get it.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They had record numbers of families show\u00a0up.\u00a0 One of the organizers said they usually ended up with food left over.\u00a0 This time, we\u00a0were running out of food with a long line of cars weaving through the parking lot still waiting to be served.\u00a0 Either word had gotten out, or there are more people in need.\u00a0 I suspect it’s a bit of both.<\/p>\n