True Accomplishment
Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. -Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
OUR Sunday school class members provide meals for anyone in the class who needs help. Cheryl, a young mother, had surgery recently, so we all took turns making dinner for her family. As the mother of three boys myself, I am always busy. I keep a to-do list, and often my only sense of accomplishment for a day is to check something off. When it was my turn to provide a meal, I added "Dinner for Cheryl on Wednesday" to my list.
On Wednesday, I hurried to deliver my well-planned dinner. I left a few directions for Cheryl and flew out of her house just in time for evening worship. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I crossed the dinner off my list.
I was proud of my efficiency - until I got the thank-you note. Although gracious with her thanks, Cheryl wrote, "I do wish you'd had time to visit." I had given Cheryl a small blessing -- food -- and withheld a larger one -- time.
I still struggle with balancing commitments. But when I'm tempted to accomplish a task rather than invest in a relationship, I remember the lesson I learned from that incident with Cheryl. Our greatest accomplishment is to love the people God puts in our life.