As I’ve told you before, its quite snowy here.
A few days ago I set out to do a routine shoveling. You see, I’d {we’d} slacked off a bit and let things pile up. A flurry here, a dusting there. Barely seems like enough to clear off. Eventually…the flurries and the dustings piled up. And they needed to be moved. The thing is, even after sitting for a few days, it had just stayed so cold the snow was still light and easy to move. So I started in.
It’s lovely to live on the corner lot. There are lots of perks. The drawback? Shoveling. Clearing the space all the way around the house. All things considering it was a nice day, and fairly easy work. So I didn’t mind.
After the driveway was clear I moved on to the sidewalks. I noticed that my slacking had indeed effected my neighbors. There were lots of tracks. Evidence that people had gone for walks, taken their dog on a stroll, went jogging…down my stretch of snowy walkway. Ugh. Now I felt bad. I’d just put it off because it really wasn’t effecting me…and because I’d barely had enough time at home to do it. But here is was, and I was a jerk. Just thinking of the poor mailman out doing his on-foot deliveries…bringing my mail–to my doorstep, mind you–through all the snow that I hadn’t had the common courtesy to move. Woof. I’m so lame.
So anyway I shoveled on. It only took about 15 minutes {isn’t that the way our most dreaded chores usually go?} to get to the end of our property line.
Then something weird happened. Instead of going inside to a cup of peppermint tea and a cuddle with the cutest cat in the world…I kept shoveling.
Because I was able. Because I had time. Because it needed to be done. Because I really do want to live my life doing as much as I can, for as many as I can, for as long as I can. Who knows what my neighbors’ excuses are. Maybe they are old, or sick, or tired, or lazy, or busy. Who cares? Why not help…even the tiniest bit when we are able?
Now…I don’t want you to read this and think that I’m awesome. Or think that I think that I’m awesome. {Savvy?} Because I’m not. And I don’t. In fact, I think I’m pretty lame. But I serve a God who decided that I was worth it. And he has seen fit to bless me with physical, mental, and financial health. He has trusted these gifts to me and I want to use them in a way that will make Him proud and glad he put His resources in my hands.
Each day we decide how we will live. How we will give. How we will Follow. It’s a decision that we must make every day. When we open our eyes and hearts we will find an abundance of ways to live a Much, Many, Long lifestyle. Where you will make a difference today?
Amy
