Maybe it’s because this week marks 5 years that Mom has passed on to her eternal reward and I’m thinking about her as well as my dad…
And when I think about them, besides the sadness, there are joyful memories...
Many of those memories attach themselves to their “Doing Good” for others mentality.
Forward Friday continues our walk to doing good in 2024. It is an amazing thing to be able to do something that lifts the spirits of the one we show kindness to and by doing good, it does our spirits good… And as always, there’s good news medicine at the end!!
Let’s Get Into This!!
I’ve learned so many things about my parents during their life here on earth and also since they left us for a more excellent place.
Their kindness to others is legendary but there are a few that stick out. Some things we do others see and other “Doing Good” moments are unseen, but they have immeasurable results.
Take #1
The first time I came home from school and the front door to the house was open and no one was home was in grade 7. I’m trying to figure out where mom is and when I come out after finding no one home, I look across the street and there mom is in all her glory……
Talking to a lady outside of the IGA grocery store directly across the street from us.
Mom walks over, comes up the stairs and says that she was spending some time talking to that lady because she looked like she needed some cheering up.
I guess security wasn’t a thing back then when it came to leaving the front door of your house wide open in our neighborhood.
But I soon found out that Mom was the Queen of the street for years.
People would be talking to her on the steps, some would even be sitting on the balcony, talking with her, sipping tea and Mom always seemed to have some goodies on hand.
Mom would say that while we may not know what someone might be going through, it is very easy and simple to show a kindness and one of her kindness characteristics was her ability to make people feel cared for, appreciated, and loved without restriction and measure.
Mom’s “Do Good” mantra was not only felt in the neighborhood, but in our family, church and really, anywhere mom set foot.
And to give some perspective, Mom’s upbringing, childhood, teen years were anything but easy. In fact, one could argue that Mom could have been bitter, angry and upset because of how life seemed to treat her in the early years….
But to ask anyone who knew her, Mom had a sweetness about her, a joy and zest for life that was contagious and that she loved people deeply.
If there was anyone who knew how to “Do Good”, Mom was in the game!!!
Take #2
I knew my dad did a lot for people and I could list many, of which he would probably have said that acts of kindness and “Doing Good” just need to be done; no fanfare needed.
But I found out one of the most incredible “Do Good” moments that dad was a part of. The day that we buried dad, we had come back to the church for the afternoon luncheon and many were coming to give their condolences to our family.
2 sisters in particular, made their way to speak with us.
These 2 sisters who had emigrated to Canada, specifically Montréal back in the 1980’s.
They had settled into their apartment near the downtown core.
They had only been there a month when the whole complex went up in flames.
They were displaced for about 10 days before they found a new apartment.
About a week into their new surroundings, they had a knock on their door one evening.
When they opened the door, it was my dad and other man from the church.
Dad and the other gentleman had a fridge and stove in hand and simply said, “You’re going to need these so here you are!”
The sisters couldn’t figure out how they knew they were in need or even how they found out where their new apartment was but….they did…..
And even 20 plus years after the fact, tears welled up in her eyes as she said how that kindness impacted her deeply.
It seems as though even if I wanted to, I cannot get away from the “Do Good” aspect of my family and nor do I want to.
I know my life has been made better because of the parents I had.
But as much as I lean on the actions and deeds of my heritage, there’s precedent for “Doing Good” that is in a category that gives a completeness, a proper and right attitude for doing good…
Here Comes Some Good News Medicine…
So the Bible makes it clear that Jesus went about “Doing Good” and we find one reference in
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
That is a good enough reason for any of us to engage in “Good Works”.
There is another story that when I think of “Doing Good” that always grips me.
2 Samuel 9 tells the story of David showing Kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth
The Vitals..
David had become King. He’s the newly crowned king looking to gain and maintain power like any new ruler would have.
Mephibosheth, the crippled grandson of the fallen king who, by the way tried to kill David a number of times; the habit and belief of that time and era would have been for David to disregard him at best and kill him at worst.
Yet victorious and powerful King David, remembering his promise to Jonathan and Saul, instead searches, pursues Mephibosheth out to not only honor him but to bless him. He reestablishes family land to Mephibosheth, and invites him to eat, celebrate at his table.
Some Key Things That Jump Out
Grace/Showing Kindness/Doing Good Is Not Based Upon Someone’s Importance
Mephibosheth was poor, powerless, and unworthy of David’s grace. David then discovered that a poor and crippled son of Jonathan lived in hiding from him:
2 Samuel 9:2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ And he said, ‘I am your servant.’ 3 The king said, ‘Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?’ And Ziba said to the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.’ 4 So the king said to him, ‘Where is he?’
Gratitude:
Mephibosheth was appreciative for David’s mercy and grace. Mephibosheth had lived his life as a man waiting in fear for his death sentence to be carried out. But when kindness showed up, he then he was overwhelmed with gratitude for David’s mercy and grace:
2 Samuel 9: 7 David said to him, ‘Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.’ 8 Again he prostrated/bowed down himself and said, ‘What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?”
Restoration: Out of Love
David promises to restore what Mephibosheth lost through his father’s sins/missing of the mark. David’s covenant/promise/oath only required him to spare the lives of Jonathan’s descendants. But David did more than was required of him. He also restored all the lands that Mephibosheth lost because of his grandfather’s sins:
2 Samuel 9:9-10 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, ‘All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.’ Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.”
Out of loyalty, David promised to care for Jonathan’s descendants by restoring their wealth. David fulfilled his vow by caring for Jonathan’s crippled son.
“But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the oath of the LORD which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.” (2 Sam. 21:7).
Words matter and in researching this story, there are some interesting gems that can help us even now as we pursue being kind, “Doing Good”.
David’s kindness was not some knee jerk reactionary move either.
He sets out looking for Mephibosheth and the offer/invitation was “hesed,” the Hebrew word for lovingkindness.
In fact, the same word is used many times that reference God’s unwavering love and faithfulness to His children.
The Things I Think:
We show Kindness when we “Do Good” by helping those in need, we do those things without expectation of being repaid… But I can say that “Doing Good”, showing kindness does have a reciprocal value.
We can comfort others the way God wants to and does comfort us.
We have no clue what amazing things God can do through our acts of “Doing Good”.
“Doing Good” can impact someone in ways we never know.
One simple act of “Doing Good”, a kindness could completely change someone’s perspective.
So, as I think about my parents and what they have brought to Life’s Table when it comes to “Doing Good”, I can’t help but believe that it is part of my life to “Do Good” and to show kindness wherever I can, However I can…
Join me this month in “Doing Good” and Showing “Kindness” because it really matters!!!
Dave
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