It’s Day 99 of my 100 Day Challenge! Tomorrow’s the day that I complete this challenge of stepping outside my comfort zone to accomplish things I’ve never done before. If you’ve been following along, I’ve been sharing over the last 3 1/2 months. Here’s a short list of a few firsts:
- Daily prayer with coworkers
- Serving on a sponsorship committee
- Taking photographs in the UP
- Swing dancing with my priest
- Eating an avocado.
- Kayaking in an inflatable kayak
- Lectoring at Mass
- Two grandchildren born in the same week
- Attending a beach wedding
- Creating note cards from my photographs
- Vodka and grapefruit drink, “Bahzinga”
- Praying a novena to Mother Teresa
- Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist on my tongue- a total life changer
This challenge has taught me many things, the most important being to let go of me and grow stronger in my faith, loving God first and foremost and to love others as myself through relationships. Although this challenge started by focusing on me and doing things outside my own little world, it has led me to one of the most important life lessons: and that is, selflessness.
Selflessness is almost unheard of these days. Most personal development coaches miss the marked and they tend to focus all on me, me, me. When in fact, the reality is if you want to be successful and live life to the fullest, you have to be all about others. The Bible says you must love God above all else and love others as yourself. It assumes you already love you, that’s our human nature. But we can’t stop at just loving ourselves. There is so much more to life. We must learn to love other people, faults and all, because Jesus does that for us.
Bible verse on selflessness: Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others.”
Each One, Reach One
Which leads me to my next endeavor: I’m starting an initiative that will hopefully take on a life of it’s own. It’s called “Each one, reach one.” Doing small things with great love, one person at a time. Sounds like a great t-shirt slogan. I may have a few made up. lol.
It’s an idea that came to me one night. (I get these sometimes. I’m finally learning to listen to that still small voice in my head.) What if each one of us just decided to help someone who is struggling in life? I have at least three people on my Facebook friends list who is struggling in some way, financially, physically or mentally with something in their lives. What if I just decided to help one person? Who do you know who could use a little help, a friendly smile or conversation?
Or to be really bold and outside your comfort zone, what if you took someone into your home? Do you know of someone who is living under the bridge or on the street in your hometown? The home I live in used to house eight children at one time. Now there are only two of us. Most of us live in houses that are too big, let’s be honest. We have so much stuff that could help someone else. –think about it.
Have you ever thought about whose life you could have an impact on? I mean, other than your immediate family? Aren’t we called to be disciples, to show others who Jesus is, by loving others and I mean everyone, not just those in our families?
Take Action
So now that my 100 day challenge has come to an end, I realize that it can never really end. I need to challenge myself every day to think of others, to be intentional, to always be willing to step outside my comfort zone, to help someone besides myself.
“Each one, reach one.” Let’s practice a little selflessness. Just pick one person who comes to mind, I bet you can. Your next door neighbor. A friend who is homebound. A young mom with small children. Someone who just got out of prison. Let’s be the example. Show them Jesus. Let’s help them to live life to the fullest by teaching them what we know, how we’ve managed to get by in this life. Connect them to the God who loves them more than they know. Invite them to your church. Love them like Jesus.
Thanks for following along. I appreciate every one of you. If you like this message, would you please share this post with your friends? Let me know what action you are taking to make a difference in the lives of others. Thanks. Love you guys.
God bless.–Barb
