1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, others, 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 2: and even yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and 7 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves, whether through inspiring stories, practical tips, 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: or biblical truths. I hope to encourage you to love boldly, 9 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: live faithfully, and reflect God's. 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Love in your everyday life. 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: Today, I'm excited to welcome Christy Gandy to the show. 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: Christy is the owner of Love Well Collective, a company 13 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: that helps people love others well through thoughtfully, thoughtfully curated 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: care packages and gifts designed to bring comfort, encouragement, and hope. 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: Christy has a passion for showing up for people in 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: meaningful ways, especially during life's hardest moments, and she has 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: made it her mission to help us to do the same. 18 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: Christy's here today to teach us how to practically love 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: and support the people in our. 20 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Lives even when we don't know what to say or do. Well. 21 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: Hello Christy, and welcome to the Love of Fring podcast. 22 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to have you. Thank you. I'm so 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: excited to be here. 24 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: So years ago, devotional A Little Girls A Long Way 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 2: came out and all of a sudden, you were friends 26 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: with a friend of mine and you found in my 27 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 2: book and you included it in one of your boxes. 28 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 2: And I can't tell you what that meant to me, 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 2: especially well at any time, but as a first time author, 30 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: to have somebody to kill alongside me and support me 31 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 2: and share the message like you loved me. 32 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: So well and we were strangers at the time. Well, 33 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: you're well, I love your book. 34 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 3: I think it's so practical and helpful, and yeah, I 35 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 3: thought it was really encouraging and perfect. 36 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: Well we're hindred Spirits. 37 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: Well, thank you, Well done to you, because I think 38 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: what you're doing is just so beautiful. And so we've 39 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: been talking back and forth for the last several years, 40 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: like I need to have you on the show. This 41 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 2: is a perfect topic for us because this is what 42 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: you're doing, like vaguely basis is loving being a love offering. 43 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: And so let's start. 44 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: I really just want to let listeners in to know 45 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: like the behind the scenes story. 46 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: So tell us how it first started. 47 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: What inspired you to start your business and making loving 48 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: others your mission? 49 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, thank you, I appreciate your encouragement for cheering 50 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: me on. 51 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: So in twenty fifteen, my dad passed away. 52 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 3: He'd been sick for several years and had cancer and 53 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 3: all kinds of different things. When he died, he was 54 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 3: honestly one of the first people, like one of the 55 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 3: closest people I had ever have passed away. So I 56 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 3: had never been on that side of grief, and I 57 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: learned very quickly that so many people don't know what 58 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: to say, and they don't know what to do, and 59 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 3: so a lot of times they do nothing. 60 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: And so I was kind of surprised, I guessed. 61 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 3: By the people who reached out and the people who didn't, 62 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 3: and the things that people did and the things that 63 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 3: people didn't do, and also convicted because I knew that 64 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: I had been that person before. I had missed opportunities, 65 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: been awkward and said the wrong thing, or nothing at all. 66 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 1: So that happened in. 67 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 3: Twenty fifteen, and then over the course of the next 68 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: several years, my husband and I walked with some people 69 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 3: through some really hard things, and I just began to 70 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 3: learn more and more about what does it actually look 71 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 3: like to love people who are walking through grief and 72 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: difficult seasons, and just started learning some things along the way, 73 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 3: and also realizing that there's so little education surrounding that, 74 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 3: and even just talking with people that I know, so 75 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 3: many people will admit, yeah, I don't know what to say, 76 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: I don't know what to do. 77 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: It's really awkward. 78 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 3: And so I feel like the Lord just laid on 79 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 3: my heart had just kind of started writing some things down. 80 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 3: I'd always loved writing, and so I just started kind 81 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 3: of collecting thoughts that the Lord had given me and 82 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 3: things I'd learned along the way. 83 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: And throughout that I did. 84 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 3: End up going to a writer's conference and thought I 85 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: was going to start writing a book. And anyway, my 86 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 3: trajectory changed a little bit. That led to the idea 87 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 3: of the gift box business. And I realized, you know, 88 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 3: people just need something tangible to send to people. Well, 89 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 3: I think it's great when you encourage people, you send 90 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 3: them a text, you tell them you're praying for them, 91 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 3: like all those things are needed and good and please 92 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 3: do that. And also whenever you just go the extra 93 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 3: mile and do something tangible meet a practical need, it 94 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 3: lets those people know that you see them and that 95 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 3: you're acknowledging what's happening in their lives. And so that's 96 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: really the heart behind why I started the business. There's 97 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 3: nothing extra special about what goes in the box. It's 98 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 3: just the fact that it makes it really easy for 99 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 3: people to do something that's not sending a meal. It's 100 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 3: not sending flowers. Those are overdone sometimes, or people who 101 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 3: are out of town don't want to do that or 102 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 3: for whatever reason. So yeah, I have become more and 103 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 3: more passionate about talking about what does it actually look 104 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,679 Speaker 3: like to encourage your friends who are going through hard things. 105 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: Everybody listening probably right now can think of somebody that 106 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: they know that's going through something hard. 107 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: And you're so right. 108 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: It's hard to know what to say and what to do, 109 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: and you want to be supportive, but yet we're also busy, 110 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 2: and so it's like, well, maybe I don't have time 111 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 2: to go to the store and create this perfect gift box, 112 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: but I do have time to get online. 113 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: And let Christy do the work for me exactly, Yes, 114 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: just do it. 115 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: Yes, Well, we're gonna continue this conversation and I can't 116 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 2: wait too, but we're going to take a quick break 117 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: to hear a word from today's sponsor, and we'll be 118 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: right back. Welcome back. We are talking with Christy Gandy. 119 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 2: She is the owner of Love Will Collective. The name 120 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: of itself is so beautiful. Christy, What does loving will 121 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: mean to you? 122 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: Yeah? I love that question. 123 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 3: I think really, to me, it is so much about 124 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 3: making people feel seen and cared for. Everybody wants to 125 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 3: know that someone sees them, you know, and so just 126 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 3: acknowledging that something difficult is happening in their lives, I 127 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 3: think can go a really long way and no one 128 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 3: is looking to you to fix it. But when you 129 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 3: are just willing to offer some kind of tangible demonstration 130 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 3: of hey, I love you, I care about you, I 131 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: think that that is so important. So when I think 132 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: about loving well, I think so much about noticing the 133 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: people who are around me and just paying attention to 134 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: what's happening, and you know, not just focusing on myself, 135 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 3: but looking around and intentionally focusing on the people around 136 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 3: me and the things that they're walking through. 137 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it takes time to slow down. 138 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 2: You know, the people that are actually that you're around, 139 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 2: that are like making eye contact that are listening and 140 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: the people that remember. It always amazes me that the 141 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: friends in my life that will remember an anniversary or 142 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: a birthday or doctor's appointment, they were intentional, They really listened. 143 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: They took the time to put it on their calendar. 144 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: It took the extra step to think of me, and 145 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: it always means so much. It does make you feel 146 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: so yeah, we all have good intentions. We want to 147 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: be good friends when people are grieving or struggling or 148 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: walking through hard seasons and in good seasons, like I 149 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 2: actually was thinking about when you were first selling your story, 150 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 2: Like even when I had my babies, I had friends 151 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 2: who had their children years before me. I didn't know 152 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 2: because I didn't know what it was like to be pregnant. 153 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: I didn't know what it was like to have a 154 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: newborn at home. And so I remember, and when I 155 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 2: had a baby and a newborn at home and people 156 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: were bringing me meals and all the gifts, I felt 157 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 2: so bad for the lack of love that I gave 158 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: to the people that have had children before me, Like, oh, 159 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: I didn't know any better. And so I think there's 160 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: an element to that, like if you've not been through it, 161 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 2: you don't know what other people may need, and so 162 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: I think that that is a part of it. So 163 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 2: talk to us, teach us about how to love and 164 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: support our friends in those really hard and good moments 165 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 2: without feeling forced and uncomfortable. 166 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you're right. 167 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 3: I think that your perspective does change once you have 168 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 3: experienced something. And one of the things I often tell 169 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 3: people is that it's never too late, like there is 170 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 3: no such thing as being too late. And I guess 171 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 3: I specifically think about that. You know, it's easy to 172 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 3: do something like if someone has lost a loved one, 173 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 3: it's easy to do something right around the time of 174 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 3: the funeral or maybe the weaker afterwards, and then not 175 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 3: because where you don't care, but you know, life happens 176 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 3: and you just kind of get back to normal and 177 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 3: before you know it, you kind of forget about it, 178 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 3: whereas that person is still grieving, and I mean they 179 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 3: will grieve for years and years and years, And so 180 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 3: I often have told people, you know, do something three 181 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 3: months later, six months later, the year anniversary, two years later, 182 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 3: like it's never too late to do something for somebody, 183 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 3: And even like you were saying with kids, you know, 184 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 3: someone who's had a baby six months in is still 185 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: really hard, you know, two years in. 186 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: Is really hard. 187 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 2: Like I have a teenager, Yeah, please send me a 188 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 2: gift box exactly. 189 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: I think that's one thing. Yeah, Like no one is 190 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: ever going to be like, why would you love me? Now? 191 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: You know, like, no, I can't say that. 192 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 3: But a couple of things I actually have been thinking 193 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: about because I know it can feel really awkward sometimes. 194 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 3: And one of the things I thought about is that 195 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 3: sometimes we just don't even ask God to help us 196 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: notice those around us, and so I think that that 197 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 3: is one really practical step, is just asking God, would 198 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 3: you please just illuminate for me the people around me 199 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 3: who need your love? And I've sat down before at 200 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 3: my desk and just been like, Okay, Lord, who do 201 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 3: I need to send. 202 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: A card to today? And he does. 203 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 3: He brings people to your mind, and he knows what's 204 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 3: going on, and sometimes it comes at the exact right moment. 205 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:18,959 Speaker 3: Or I have even sent cards to people and they 206 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 3: didn't get it until three weeks later, and they will 207 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 3: tell me, you have no idea how much I needed 208 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 3: this today, And I'm like, okay, Lord, your timing is 209 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 3: not my timing. 210 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: You know what's going on? And so asking him. But 211 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: the second thing is sometimes I think we. 212 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 3: Overthink it, we overcomplicate it, and it can be as 213 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 3: simple as just saying to somebody, I'm really sorry that 214 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 3: you're hurting in this way. I think sometimes we've put 215 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 3: too much pressure on ourselves to fix their situation, which 216 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: is not what they're looking for and not what we're 217 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 3: called to do and not what we can do anyway, 218 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: And so just acknowledging like, hey, I'm really sorry that 219 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 3: this is happening, and I'm here if you want to talk. 220 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 3: I'm praying for you. There's something to just knowing that 221 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: we're not alone in whatever it is that is going on, 222 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 3: and then just doing what you can. 223 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: And so you may not have the capacity in that moment. 224 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 3: To bring them a meal or provide financially or you know, 225 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 3: whatever that thing is, but you can absolutely pray for them. 226 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,079 Speaker 1: You can absolutely send an encouraging note. 227 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,599 Speaker 3: I was thinking earlier, like even just we're all so 228 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 3: gifted in different ways. Or you know, maybe your husband 229 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 3: owns a lawnmowing company, you know, and he can go 230 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 3: mow the lawn, or you love children and you offer 231 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 3: to keep their kids, Like just thinking about what might 232 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 3: some of their needs be and what do I have 233 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 3: to offer that I can, you know, within my capacity, 234 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 3: within my gifts and abilities, that would just let them 235 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 3: know like I see you and I care about you. 236 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. 237 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: I've been reading the Book of Job, which is not 238 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: a fun book to read, and sometimes I don't know, 239 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 2: like why did I start in on this, but it 240 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: just brings to mine. Job was going through unimaginable grief, 241 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 2: lost everything, and his friends come alongside him and they 242 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 2: sit with him silently for a little while, and then 243 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 2: they start to break him and make him feel shame. 244 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 2: And I think that that's what some of us are 245 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 2: a little bit afraid of, is like Okay, I'm gonna 246 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 2: go and I'm gonna say the wrong thing or do 247 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: the wrong thing. But I think from their lives we 248 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 2: do learn that sometimes all your friend or family members 249 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: may need is. 250 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: Just your presence. You don't have to do anything. 251 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 2: I always think about with funerals and visitations, sometimes you 252 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 2: feel like, well, am I really that close to that person? 253 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: Like will that person care if I'm there? You know? 254 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: Am I showing up? And you should I? Or whatever? 255 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: Just that self doubt and we always. 256 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 2: End up saying we'll never regret showing up for somebody. Yeah, 257 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: you know, and if that's become kind of our motto, 258 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: like you're not going to regret just showing up. You 259 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 2: don't have to say or do anything, but just being present. 260 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 2: So i'd love to hear from you. Is there somebody 261 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:54,719 Speaker 2: that has just really loved you? 262 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:55,120 Speaker 1: Well? 263 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: Is there somebody in your life that does impacted you 264 00:11:58,679 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 2: in a really meaningful way. 265 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 3: So one of the stories that I love to tell 266 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 3: because it's so simple, but I just think it's really 267 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 3: had a profound impact on me. Three months after my 268 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: dad passed away, I had two little kids. I had 269 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 3: a one year old a three year old. Like, it 270 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 3: was just a really rough day, it was just a 271 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 3: hard season. And I remember, I don't know exactly what 272 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 3: all was going on, but I remember being in my 273 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 3: kitchen and I just pounded my fist on the counter 274 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 3: and just cried out to the Lord. And I don't 275 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 3: remember exactly what all I said, but I do remember 276 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 3: saying something along the lines of God, I need you 277 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 3: to just throw me a bone here. 278 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: Like this is a really hard day. 279 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 3: And a couple hours later, the doorbell rang and there 280 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 3: was a florist and he delivered some flowers to me 281 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 3: and I checked the card, and on the card was 282 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 3: written just a really short, simple message, and all it 283 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 3: said was, we just want you to know that we 284 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 3: haven't forgotten. 285 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: And like, even. 286 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 3: Now, I I mean ten years later, it still makes 287 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 3: me cry because it was from my college roommates parents. 288 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: It's not even like it was from my best friend. 289 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 3: I'm not super prettyper close to them. You know, that 290 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 3: was a lot of few years ago. And in that 291 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 3: moment I thought two things. I thought, Wow, what an 292 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 3: incredibly thoughtful gift from them to let me know three 293 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 3: months later that they still hadn't forgotten me. They knew 294 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 3: I was still walking through this thing. And two, it 295 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 3: was such a reminder from the Lord that he sees 296 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 3: me and that he heard my prayers and that he 297 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 3: hadn't forgotten. And so I've thought about that so many times, 298 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 3: just to remind me to keep checking on my friends, 299 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 3: to whether it's they lost a loved one, or they're 300 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 3: going through a cancer diagnosis, or something difficult with their 301 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 3: children or their marriage or whatever. It is something so 302 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 3: small as having something delivered on your front porch and 303 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 3: just letting them know, Hey, I see you. 304 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: I haven't forgotten. 305 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: You never know what is going on in their life 306 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 3: that day, and how the Lord is answering one of 307 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 3: their prayers, or how God is going to use that 308 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: what you think is a seemingly small gesture to just 309 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 3: point them back to Him and make them feel loved. 310 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 3: There's no wrong timing, like when the Lord prompts you 311 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 3: to do something, to be obedient, to be sensitive to 312 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 3: those promptings, and we get to partner with him in 313 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 3: loving people got s ues. 314 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: He cares. 315 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 2: It's a beautiful story, and it's something that happened ten 316 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 2: years ago ish and you're still talking about it today. 317 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: And so to me, that is just a reminder for 318 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 2: me that something's as small as a little gift three 319 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 2: months later is really meaningful to somebody, and we'll never 320 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 2: know the impact of that on somebody's right. And so 321 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 2: I love that story and I can't wait to continue 322 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 2: this conversation. But we're going to take another brief break 323 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 2: and hear a word from today's sponsor. 324 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 325 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 2: We are talking with Christy Gandy about loving others will 326 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 2: and so you've given us so many practical tips are ready, 327 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: but I'm wondering if you have any other ideas for 328 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 2: those listening that really want to start being more intentional 329 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: about encouraging others in there every they love. 330 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 3: Okay, so three easy things real quickly that I think 331 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 3: you're so easy for everyone to do. And you even 332 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 3: mentioned it earlier. But write it down, write it on 333 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 3: your calendar, Set an alarm. I mean most of us 334 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 3: nowadays have a smartphone. There's no reason why we can't 335 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 3: set a reminder. We can't set an alarm. I have 336 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: literally been sitting in funerals and I will make a 337 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 3: note of the date when that person passed away, and 338 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 3: I will go ahead and look a year ahead and 339 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 3: put it on my calendar that that's the one year 340 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 3: anniversary when so and so's mom or sister or whoever 341 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 3: it was that passed away. 342 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: And like you were saying, it just means so much 343 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: to people. 344 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 3: When you took the initiative and you made the effort 345 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 3: to do something that a lot of people don't tend 346 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 3: to do, they remember it. And you said something earlier 347 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 3: while ago that made me think. I actually was talking 348 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 3: to someone not too long ago who said, you know, 349 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 3: the people who come to your wedding, it's really special, 350 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 3: and you remember a lot of them, but the people 351 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 3: who come to the funerals that sticks out for some reason. 352 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 3: It's just a different experience in a different way of 353 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 3: feeling loved. And you tell the Bible tells us to 354 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 3: celebrate with those you're celebrating, and he also tells us 355 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 3: to weep with those who are weeping. So that's just 356 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 3: one really practical way is writing it down, putting on 357 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 3: your calendar, and then thinking about the gifts that you have. 358 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: What is something really practical that you can do? 359 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: So I love to bake. 360 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 3: I'm not a huge cook, a cook because my people 361 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: like to eat, but I would really rather bake. And 362 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 3: so I will, you know, bake breads or cookies or 363 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 3: whatever and just give them away. It's such an easy 364 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 3: and really inexpensive thing to do for somebody. But it's 365 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 3: not hard to tie some cookies up in a bag, 366 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 3: put a little note that says, hey, I'm thinking about you, 367 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 3: and just drop it in their mailbox or leave it 368 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: on the front porch. 369 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: Just what are the things that you're good at. 370 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 3: Both my mom and my grandma, my grandma's passed away, 371 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 3: but both of them were incredible note writers and just 372 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 3: so faithful at sending encouraging notes, thank you notes, anniversary, birthday, 373 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 3: all the things, and so, especially in today's society where 374 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 3: notewriting can be such a lost art, I think it 375 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 3: really means a lot when you. 376 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: Get a handwritten note in the mail. 377 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,639 Speaker 3: And again I've had people who've told me Christy, it 378 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 3: came at just the right time, like you didn't know 379 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: that I needed it on that day. And so go 380 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 3: to the post office and buy some stamps and keep 381 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 3: them in your drawer. And when the Lord lays somebody 382 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 3: on your heart, just send them a note. Or even 383 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 3: my sweet neighbor she sometimes will just drop little notes 384 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: in our mailbox. You just walk down the street and 385 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 3: she just shoves in your note in your mailbox. 386 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: So that that has been really meaningful. 387 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 3: And then the third thing that I like to do 388 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 3: is and I think my mom and my grandma again 389 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 3: taught me this, But I have a tiny little gift 390 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 3: closet in my guest room and I just keep some 391 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 3: gifts on hand. And sometimes I'll be at a store 392 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 3: and maybe they're having a sale, or maybe at some 393 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 3: of my favorite things, and I've just bought a few 394 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: extras or you know whatever, and I'll keep it in there. 395 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 3: And so again when the Lord lays somebody on your 396 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 3: heart when something's going on. There's a fame La at 397 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 3: our church not too long ago and they were in 398 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 3: the hospital for over a month with their son dealing 399 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 3: with some heart issues. Like those are times when it's 400 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 3: so easy to go, okay, how can I just tangibly 401 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 3: love them, Like how can I bring a little snap 402 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 3: up to the hospital or. 403 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: You know that would just remind them that they're seen. 404 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 3: And so those are the things I think that we 405 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 3: can be proactive about that, we can be intentional, and 406 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 3: you kind of have to plan ahead and think ahead. 407 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 3: But I love it when something comes up and I think, oh, 408 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 3: you know what, I have this thing in that closet 409 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 3: that I can you know, share with them. So anyway, 410 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 3: that's just a few few little ideas. 411 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: Well, there's those are also great and axon me think, 412 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 2: you know, I have some of those neighbors that are 413 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 2: And I've talked about her before, Miss Doris. She's ninety 414 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 2: and I just will randomly get a bouquet of flowers 415 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 2: cuttings from. 416 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: Her garden on our front porch, or. 417 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: A candle or literally just yesterday she dropped off a 418 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 2: package that was a book. It was called Front Porch Devotionals, 419 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 2: and so she just was constantly thinking about us. And 420 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 2: then my other friend Jim, he's nivy and he will 421 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 2: bring us a bag of onions or he'll walk around 422 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 2: them all and so every Sunday he gives me back 423 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: bodywork explosion, I mean every Sunday. Or he'll cut my 424 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 2: kids newspaper clippings from their sports and he saves them 425 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: for us. He always has it in his suit pocket 426 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 2: on Sunday mornings and so and it is it just 427 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 2: makes me feel so special and so seeing that they're 428 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 2: thinking about us, and I'm just thinking. 429 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 1: My husband was just in the hospital last month. 430 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 2: And we were there for about a week and he's 431 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 2: doing better, and I'm thankful for that. But during that season, 432 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: the people that came to visit us in the hospital 433 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 2: and the people that brought meals and were praying for us, 434 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: and even when we got home, somebody had left cupcakes 435 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,880 Speaker 2: on our front porch. And I think our biggest takeaway 436 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,680 Speaker 2: after that time with him in the hospital was we're 437 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: so thankful for the community that God has blessed us with. 438 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 2: Right and so even though when we go through these 439 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 2: types of grieving and this hardship. It is a sweetness 440 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 2: and a kindness of the Lord to even have him 441 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 2: show like I have all these people that are my 442 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 2: hands and feet that are listening to me the Holy Spirit, 443 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: and then going and loving you will the way that 444 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 2: I love you. We really are an extension of Him 445 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 2: and so this work it really does matter. 446 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: So talk to us a little bit about that. 447 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 2: Why do you think that God uses such simple acts 448 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: of love and such powerfulois. 449 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 3: Well, exactly what you just said, Like, I literally was thinking, 450 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 3: we are the hands and feet of Jesus, and I 451 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 3: think that he uses us to get to be a 452 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,240 Speaker 3: part of that ministry. And I've been reminded recently that 453 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 3: he is pouring his love into us, and so out 454 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 3: of the overflow of that, we are loving those around us. 455 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 3: There's a verse in the New Testament that talks about 456 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 3: like we are compelled by his love, and so I 457 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 3: think that that is a really big part of. 458 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: It, is that He uses us because he wants to. 459 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 3: He chooses too, he doesn't have to, but we get 460 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,679 Speaker 3: to be a part of just reminding others that He 461 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 3: sees them. And I think that as we do that 462 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 3: it builds our faith as well, because it reminds us 463 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 3: that he is at work, even in ways when we 464 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 3: can't see. And maybe, you know, I'm praying a prayer 465 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 3: today and I don't know how or when he's going 466 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 3: to answer it, but he's pricking someone else's heart, prompting them. 467 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 3: And you know, we all get to be a part 468 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 3: and and to get a front row seat to what 469 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 3: he's doing and how he's at work. 470 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: And I just think it's really sweet that he does that. 471 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,679 Speaker 1: It really is. It really is a privilege to get 472 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: to partner with him. 473 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 2: But we do see so much need, especially in our 474 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 2: social media culture, and it can feel very overwhelming, like, Okay, 475 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 2: I'm one person and I only have this amount of resources, 476 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 2: only have this amount of time. I'm limited, and I 477 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 2: can get a little bit overwhelmed, like I want to 478 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 2: do all these things but I legitimately can't. Yeah, So 479 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: try us about that can almost burn ourselves out, Like 480 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 2: we still have to sleep, we still have to clean 481 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: our house. You can't just go everything just to go 482 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 2: and be another Teresa to everyone at all times. So 483 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 2: talk to us a little bit about that. How do 484 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 2: we not burn out when we're exhausted and like, oh us, 485 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 2: because we don't believing feeling that way. 486 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,719 Speaker 1: You're right, yeah, what do they call that? Is it 487 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: compassion fatigue? 488 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 3: I think yes, it said yeah, yeah, Now, I think 489 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,919 Speaker 3: that's a great question, a really good point and something 490 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 3: that I have had to wrestle with before. And even 491 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 3: just the other day, I felt like the Lord was 492 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 3: convicting me and reminding me that he has not called 493 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 3: me to save the whole world, because you know, we think, 494 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 3: on the one hand, we're being so helpful and we 495 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 3: want to love all these people, but it can also 496 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 3: be the other side of pride, you know, of like 497 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 3: wanting to be the person who's always meeting the need 498 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 3: and wanting to be the one who's praised because oh Christy, 499 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 3: you're so giving and loving and thoughtful and whatever, you. 500 00:22:58,160 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: Know, and that is still pride. 501 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,160 Speaker 3: So I have been convicted about that before, and God 502 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 3: has reminded me that you're. 503 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: Not called to save everybody. 504 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 3: And the other day there was a family in our 505 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 3: church and they had a meal train put together and 506 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,199 Speaker 3: I intended to sign up for the meal train and 507 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 3: I just didn't. And you know what, that meal train 508 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,879 Speaker 3: filled up without me, and those people got loved on 509 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 3: and everything is going to be okay. It's not because 510 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 3: I don't care about them or that I'm not loving 511 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 3: on other people. And so I think just reminding ourselves 512 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 3: of that and giving ourselves permission to let go and say, 513 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 3: you know what, it's going to be okay. 514 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: God's taking care of it now. 515 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 3: If God specifically prompts you to do something, then by 516 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,640 Speaker 3: all means we need to obey. But I don't think 517 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 3: that we need to feel the weight of the world 518 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 3: on our shoulders because he didn't call us to. We 519 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 3: can't do everything, like you said, So I do think 520 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 3: that we have to be aware of our capacity and 521 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 3: recognize that there are seasons where the only thing you 522 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 3: can do is pray. And I think sometimes we're at 523 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 3: tempted to think that, oh well, I just can't do 524 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 3: anything except pray. Sometimes that's the greatest thing that you 525 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 3: can do, and I think that can be the most 526 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 3: meaningful thing. 527 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: And I was even thinking earlier. 528 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 3: I remember one of my friends a year or two 529 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 3: ago was walking through cancer and it was a really 530 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 3: hard season for her, and sometimes we would just send 531 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 3: her a quit text with a scripture verse or something 532 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 3: that we were praying for her or I love it. 533 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 3: You know, you can send a voice message now, and 534 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 3: just a voice message praying over that person can be 535 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,359 Speaker 3: so meaningful, and it can take less than a minute. 536 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 3: Maybe you can't send a meal, maybe you can't go 537 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 3: mow their grass or whatever the thing is that they 538 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 3: might need, you can absolutely pray for them, and you 539 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 3: can send scripture, or you can just let them know, Hey, 540 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 3: the Lord laid you on my heart today and I 541 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 3: just want you to know I'm thinking about you and 542 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 3: I'm praying for you. 543 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: That can be enough. And yeah, not making ourselves feel 544 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: like we're a terrible person. 545 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 3: Because we didn't pack up and move to India. You 546 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 3: want and serve the children in the slums. 547 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's the same. You're not us. 548 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 2: As you were talking, I'm thinking about when my mom 549 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 2: had cancer. She lives in Cleveland and I live in Kentucky, 550 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: and it was really hard for me because I couldn't 551 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: prepare a mule, couldn't go and clean her house, I 552 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 2: couldn't go and mow her grass. I couldn't even really 553 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,239 Speaker 2: be present, as much as I wanted to be. I 554 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 2: was some I would send little gifts here in there, 555 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 2: and then I would talk to her on the phone 556 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 2: or I would send her text, but prayer was the 557 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 2: thing that I could consistently do. 558 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: And so we can do that for everybody everywhere. You 559 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: don't have to be with them. 560 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: And so I think for those listening, it's like that 561 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 2: long distance person that you're wanting to love, well, prayer 562 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 2: is the perfect place to start. 563 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, I remember I had a friend. 564 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 3: She was getting ready for something and there was a 565 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 3: lot going on, and for several days, I can't remember 566 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 3: it was a week or two weeks, but I told her, 567 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:50,920 Speaker 3: I said, I'm just going to get on Marco Polo 568 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 3: every day and I'm just going to pray over you 569 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 3: and you don't have to respond. And sometimes she did, 570 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 3: sometimes she didn't, but it was just a quick one minute, 571 00:25:58,160 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 3: maybe two minute. 572 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: But I just got on there and that's all I did, 573 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 1: was just pray over her. 574 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 3: And she has said before that was so meaningful and powerful, 575 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 3: and so I think, just as a reminder to people 576 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 3: who are listening, it doesn't have to cost you any. 577 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 1: Money, you know. 578 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 3: I mean, I think it's it's great when you can 579 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 3: tangibly give a gift or whatever, but something like that 580 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 3: is really powerful and really simple and doesn't even take 581 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 3: a lot of time, but can make a big impact. 582 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 1: I love that idea. 583 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: I love Marco Polo too, because sometimes when people are 584 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,199 Speaker 2: in those really hard seasons of greed or sickness or 585 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:34,639 Speaker 2: whatever it may be, they don't have the time or 586 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 2: even the emotional capacity to respond. 587 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: They're just trying to survive at that moment. 588 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 2: And so just taking the pressure off to say, hey, 589 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 2: this is here when you can listen, no need to respond. 590 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: I think that that's really important to you. Yeah. 591 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 2: Absolutely, So let's talk to the listener who maybe feels 592 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 2: forgotten or unseen today, Like Okay, Christy and Rachel, you're 593 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 2: talking about all the people that loved you so well, 594 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 2: I don't have anybody in my life like that. I'm 595 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 2: trying to love people will, but people I don't love 596 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 2: me will. I don't even feel like the love of God. 597 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 2: How would you speak and encourage her today? Yeah, well 598 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:08,879 Speaker 2: I would say you're not alone. I think that we 599 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 2: all have seasons where we feel that way. I know 600 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 2: I have had seasons where I feel that way. 601 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 3: It's funny that you asked this question, because that has 602 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 3: been a word that's actually been rolling around my head. 603 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: Lately, I've told the Lord that I'm like God. 604 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 3: Sometimes I just feel so unseen, like what I do 605 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 3: doesn't matter. And in Matthew six he is specifically telling 606 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 3: them God sees what is done in secret, and he 607 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 3: will reward you like He loves the secret places, the quiet, 608 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 3: hidden unseen. Those things matter to him. And so just 609 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 3: remembering that the things that the world praises, the things 610 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 3: that the world elevates, are not the same as what 611 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 3: God elevates, and so remembering that He is at work 612 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 3: even when we can't see it. But also I love 613 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 3: Luke Chapter twelve, verse seven or six and seven. He says, 614 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 3: are not five sparrows sold for two pennies, yet not 615 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 3: one of them is forgotten by God. 616 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 1: Indeed the very hair of your head are all numbered. 617 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 3: So don't be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows. 618 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 3: I read that last night, and I thought, thank you, Lord, 619 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 3: that you remind us that even when we feel forgotten 620 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:14,919 Speaker 3: by people, because people are humans, we are going to 621 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 3: fail one another, We're going to disappoint each other. We're 622 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 3: not perfect, but our heavenly Father is perfect. And he says, 623 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 3: I have not forgotten the sparrows. And I have all 624 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 3: the hairs on your head numbered, so I have not 625 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 3: forgotten you. Even when you feel forgotten, it's an opportunity 626 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 3: to press into him and to let him love us 627 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 3: in a way that fulfills us and sustains us. That 628 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 3: humans just won't ever be able to fully And I 629 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 3: know that. I know sometimes that feels cliche, but it's true, 630 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 3: you know. And sometimes I think that we have to 631 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 3: choose to rest in that because we can't control what 632 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 3: other people do, and God says, but I do care 633 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 3: and I do see you, And so just choosing to 634 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 3: meditate on those truths rather than focusing on the things 635 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 3: that people don't do. I think we can all sometimes 636 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 3: get into that spiral in our head, you know, where 637 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 3: we focus on the negative. We think about what people 638 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,720 Speaker 3: aren't doing, or what they said that made us mad 639 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 3: or didn't do or I know I've certainly been there before, and. 640 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 1: God just often convict me. Christy. 641 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 3: You need to transform your thinking and you need to 642 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 3: focus on what is true. Need to think about what 643 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 3: have I done for you? What do you have to 644 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 3: be grateful for? And it does change my perspective. It 645 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 3: doesn't always happen immediately, but I'm just remembering the truth 646 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 3: of what. 647 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 1: He says that he sees us and you know we 648 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: do matter to him. 649 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 2: I think that's really important to touch on that people 650 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 2: are not perfect and people are going to fail. We're 651 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 2: going to fail each other, and I do on a 652 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 2: daily basis, and the host of the Love Offering podcast 653 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 2: and I don't always act in loving ways. So and 654 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 2: I'm sure you would say like I don't always love 655 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,719 Speaker 2: will like this is my business. And families if they 656 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 2: were on right now, they'd probably be like, yes, these ladies. 657 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: Don't have it all together, right, Nope, we sure don't. 658 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 2: So for the lady listening right now, that's thinking I 659 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 2: don't have any that he loving me well right now? 660 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 2: Maybe just be the friend that you wish you had 661 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 2: if nobody supported you, go and support somebody else. I 662 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 2: think one of the best ways to get out of 663 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 2: a punk when you're just all in your feels like 664 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 2: we all do, is to go and serve somebody else. 665 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 2: Right now, think, okay, word, who do you want me 666 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 2: to go and serve? And live on today's It really 667 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 2: is more blessed to give than to receive, and I 668 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 2: think it will be it will to start to transform 669 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: your heart in any way. 670 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: Do you think? 671 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it becomes kind of addicting. Sometimes I love 672 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 3: doing things anonymously or I also just love doing things 673 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 3: people just didn't expect. We have to choose to love 674 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 3: people the way that we want to be loved, and 675 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 3: then maybe they need someone to model it for them. 676 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 3: Maybe they just have never thought about doing something like that, 677 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 3: and once you do it for them, then you know 678 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 3: it will prompt them to reciprocate. 679 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 2: Okay, let's talk about that though, because we may be 680 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 2: doing all these wonderful good deeds and what if we 681 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 2: don't get the response that we think that we deserve. 682 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 2: That is a thing like, Okay, I'm doing this great 683 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 2: of service, but yet the person really responds or doesn't 684 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 2: act grateful at all. That's hard because it's not always 685 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 2: going to be a plus B equals. See, you may 686 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 2: get no response or maybe a negative one, have you right, 687 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,800 Speaker 2: I don't know, Yes, I. 688 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 1: Know what you mean. 689 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think that that really goes back to 690 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 3: my heart. Why am I doing it? Am I doing 691 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,000 Speaker 3: it to be seen? But which even goes back to 692 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 3: Matthew six? Am I doing it to be seen by people? 693 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 3: Am I doing it because I want the praise of 694 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 3: men here on earth, or am I doing it because 695 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 3: God loved me first, and so out of the overflow 696 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 3: of his love for me, I'm going to turn around 697 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 3: and just love people because he tells me to. I 698 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 3: think that is something that we do have to wrestle with, 699 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 3: because you're right, it does hurt when you don't get 700 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 3: a thank you, or when people act like it's not 701 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 3: a big deal, or you're like, I. 702 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:43,959 Speaker 1: Just spent one hundred dollars on a meal for you, 703 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: and you know what I mean. 704 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 3: Like, you're right, Sometimes it can feel like this is 705 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 3: a big sacrifice. But again I think that's you have 706 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 3: to give it to the Lord and say, okay, Lord, 707 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 3: I'm choosing to serve because this is what you've called 708 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 3: me to do, and I'm so grateful because of what 709 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 3: You've done for me, and so this is an opportunity 710 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 3: for me to love on the people around me. And again, 711 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 3: we can't control how they respond anyway, and so if 712 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 3: I just sit and stew in bitterness, that's not really 713 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 3: solving anything. And so yes, I have had to just 714 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 3: give it to the Lord before and do what's right 715 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 3: and trust that He's gonna He'll. 716 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: Take care of it, you know. That's right, that's right. 717 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 2: Well, you've already given some really good biblical examples, but 718 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: I'm wondering if you have another. Is there a biblical 719 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: example or concept of love that you think sums up 720 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 2: the well collective? 721 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, which is kind of funny, tailing on what we 722 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 3: just talked about. So one of my favorite verses and 723 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 3: kind of I actually have this on the postcard that 724 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 3: I put in the boxes that I send. But Proverbs 725 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 3: eleven twenty five says a generous person will prosper, and 726 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 3: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed, And kind of like 727 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 3: what we were saying, it's not a promise. It doesn't 728 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 3: mean that just because you love other people that they're 729 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 3: going to love you in return. God does tell us 730 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 3: that when we are faithful, when we are generous, then 731 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 3: He does bless us. And it may look differently, it 732 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 3: may not be that someone turns around and does exact 733 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 3: same thing for me. But I just love that reminder 734 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 3: that when we refresh others, like we were just saying, 735 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 3: we are blessed in return. And maybe it's just the 736 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 3: joy that God gives us from knowing that you know what, 737 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 3: I made a difference in someone's life today. I think 738 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 3: that when we do it out of the desire to 739 00:33:25,840 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 3: just serve the Lord and to obey him and to 740 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 3: show gratitude for what he's done for us, there is 741 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:35,719 Speaker 3: this joy that we even can't fully explain sometimes that 742 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,719 Speaker 3: he just gives us an overwhelming sense of gratitude for 743 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 3: what he's done for us. And so anyway, I do 744 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 3: love that verse though, When you choose to be generous, 745 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 3: when you choose to do something, even going the extra 746 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 3: mile for other people, thinking about other people, then you 747 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 3: will be blessed in return, in whatever way God wants 748 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 3: to bless you. 749 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 1: I love that promise. Well, so tell us something you 750 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: are loving right now. 751 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 2: I was going to say it can be anything, but 752 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 2: I'm like, gosh, you've had so many products in all 753 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 2: of your boxes. Like that's like, how do you even 754 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 2: go and choose? Is it just things you love? Some 755 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 2: of it just things I love. 756 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 3: I try to be thoughtful about what somebody might want, 757 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:16,880 Speaker 3: Like I try to find comforting things, you know. I 758 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 3: try to think what would you want to send somebody 759 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 3: and what would you want to receive if you were 760 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 3: going through something so, actually, what I was going to say. 761 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 3: One of the things that I'm loving I love candles. 762 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 3: I am a candle girl through and through. I almost 763 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,239 Speaker 3: always have a candle burning. And so one of my 764 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 3: friends owns a really sweet candle company, and several months 765 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 3: ago she started doing a Candle of the Month club, 766 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 3: where every month she just automatically sends you a candle, 767 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:44,879 Speaker 3: and so I just know it's always going to come 768 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 3: at the end of the month, and. 769 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 1: I get so excited about it. 770 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 3: I have two boys and my husband and we have 771 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 3: two dogs, and even the dogs are males, and so 772 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:57,800 Speaker 3: I'm literally the only female in my house. And I 773 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,520 Speaker 3: realized a couple of years ago that fragrance was really 774 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 3: important to me, and I started thinking about it, and 775 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,240 Speaker 3: I thought, you know, it's probably because I'm surrounded by males, 776 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 3: and I just want everything to smell good. I want 777 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,360 Speaker 3: my house to smell good, I want my car to 778 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 3: smell good. I want to smell good, like I just 779 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 3: want everything to smell good. So anyway, okay, so do 780 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 3: you have a favorite scent? Does it just depend on 781 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 3: the season? 782 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:22,360 Speaker 1: Yeah? Probably? Yeah, Yeah, I know how to just one too. Yeah. Yeah. 783 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 2: Now I'm a fan of candles too. I think it 784 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 2: just makes it it cozy and I don't know, there's 785 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 2: something about the warmth that it creates, like in your 786 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,840 Speaker 2: heart and in your home. Yeah, yeah, we'll have to 787 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,239 Speaker 2: include a link to that too then, yeah, absolutely, Well, Well, 788 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: I know I want to stay connected with you. I'm 789 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 2: sure listeners are going to want to you, So tell 790 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 2: us how we can miss do that. 791 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:41,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. 792 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 3: My I'm on Instagram and Facebook. It's at Lovewellco. Dot shop, 793 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 3: and then my website is lovewell Collective dot com. 794 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 1: Those are the easiest ways to find me. 795 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,320 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, would you do us the owner of Praying 796 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:57,440 Speaker 2: for us as we close today? 797 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:00,560 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Goad, we just love you so much. We thank 798 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:04,279 Speaker 3: you that you have loved us first, and so out 799 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:06,319 Speaker 3: of the overflow of your love for us, we get 800 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 3: to love those around us. And God, I thank you 801 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 3: for the reminder that we don't go through life alone. 802 00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: Lord. 803 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 3: You've told us that you are the friend who sticks 804 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 3: closer than a brother, that you are our shepherd father, 805 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:18,600 Speaker 3: that when we're with you, that we. 806 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:19,839 Speaker 1: Have all that we need. God. 807 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 3: So I just I pray for the listeners today God, 808 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 3: who are surrounded by people who are hurting what. 809 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 1: I pray that you would help them to have the 810 00:36:27,120 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 1: eyes to. 811 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:30,760 Speaker 3: See the needs around them, Lord, and that they would 812 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 3: be able to reach out and be the hands and 813 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 3: feet of Jesus in tangible ways. 814 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: God, Would you give them confidence to do that? 815 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:38,640 Speaker 3: And I pray that even just some of the ideas 816 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 3: maybe they've heard today, Lord, that they would be moved 817 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,640 Speaker 3: in their spirit to do something in a way that 818 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:46,879 Speaker 3: would bless those around them and for the one who 819 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 3: feels unseen today and I loved God, would you just 820 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:50,839 Speaker 3: wrap them up in your love? 821 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:51,080 Speaker 1: Father? 822 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,120 Speaker 3: Would you just overwhelm them with reminders of who you 823 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:56,920 Speaker 3: are and how much you love them. God, you tell 824 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,279 Speaker 3: us that nothing can pluck us out of the palm 825 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 3: of your hand. So I just pray that you would 826 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 3: remind them that they are chosen, that they are seen, 827 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 3: and they are loved by you. You are a good, 828 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 3: good God. You've given us so much more than we deserve, 829 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 3: and we just thank you for that. We thank you 830 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 3: for Jesus the sacrifice of his loves. 831 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:14,839 Speaker 1: In Jesus same, we pray, Amen. 832 00:37:14,680 --> 00:37:18,440 Speaker 2: Amen, Well, thank you for loving me well and helping 833 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 2: us to love other people. 834 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:22,239 Speaker 3: Well. I'd really appreciate your time well. Thanks for having me. 835 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:24,680 Speaker 3: It's been such an honor. I'm thankful for you and 836 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 3: for your ministry. 837 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. 838 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:31,879 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation encouraged and inspired you to love God, 839 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,160 Speaker 2: love others, and even love yourself a little more. If 840 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,120 Speaker 2: you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend 841 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,400 Speaker 2: and leave a review. It helps others find the show 842 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 2: and spreads the message of love even further. To connect 843 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,200 Speaker 2: with me, doesn't Me on my website at Rachel Kadams 844 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 2: dot com. While you're there, be sure to download the 845 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:49,480 Speaker 2: Love Offering Calendar, a free resource filled with simple daily 846 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 2: ways to love those around you. Don't forget to pick 847 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:54,719 Speaker 2: up a copy of my book Every Day Prayers for Love, 848 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,759 Speaker 2: Learning to Love God, Others, and eving yourself, as well 849 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 2: as visit Christie's site Love Welcome to start living others 850 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:02,800 Speaker 2: well today. 851 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: A special thank you to Live Audio for supporting. 852 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:08,359 Speaker 2: This podcast and making it possible to find more great 853 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,719 Speaker 2: podcast visit lifeaudio dot com. 854 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 1: Thanks again for joining us today. Until next time, let's 855 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,680 Speaker 1: make our lives an offering of