Giving Back

There are so many worthy causes out there that need support. Our world is broken, full of sin, and in desperate need of love. Eric and I have carefully chosen several ministries to support over the years, but this week and today my heart is pricked with how much we have. We are so incredibly blessed. We have each other. We have a home. We have families and friends that love us. We have a beautiful baby boy. We have jobs to support us. And, there’s so many simple ways we can give back but many times in the busy season of life we are in, we can forget.

There are weddings. Baby showers. Moving. Holidays. The summer of travels. Back to school. Blogging (for some of us!). And just life. And before you know it…some of the things you hold dear can slip through your fingers.

I wondered if some of you might be in the same boat. I wanted to write out 5 easy ways to give back that I can refer back to for myself and for you guys if you feel so inclined.

5 Ways to Give Back Even When You’re Busy:

1. Donate to your local church with your time or finances. You can easily set up an automatic debit at many churches now where it comes out each week. We are grateful our church does this and we fully trust them to give to needs as they see fit in our city, state, the United States and the world to spread the gospel. Also, trust me, if you have a chance to email or call your church staff and ask if there’s any ways you can serve, I’m sure they’d have a long list of things for you from helping to set up the sanctuary to greeting, to helping with childcare.
   
2. Compassion International. Sponsor a child through Compassion and pray for them. We have had Gabril now for several years. We are excited to make Leyton aware of how he has a friend in another country that he can write to one day!
3. Pick one co-worker or neighbor each day and pray for them. It doesn’t have to be complicated or a lengthy prayer (see example above and these other sweet children’s prayers) but pray for their salvation, their growth in their relationship with the Lord or for anything you know pressing on them at the time. Maybe even write them a letter or text letting them know you were thinking of them and what can you pray for them about?
4. Cook a meal and take it to a family who just had a baby, who is sick or maybe even just a haggard looking mom at your office who would appreciate a nice surprise. And if cooking is not your thing, pick up some Zoe’s Kitchen food to go!
5. Donate feminine care products to a local women’s shelter.
   Why? Because homeless women do NOT have the feminine care that they need. If you live in Birmingham, I’d highly recommend reaching out to First Light Women’s Shelter.