Two times in one week I missed an opportunity. Two times.

And honestly, those are just the two times I am aware that I missed something.

These opportunities were not by definition anything that would promote me to a better place. No, these were opportunities to assist another in need. They were placed right in front of me and I was just too busy (my polite way of saying self-absorbed) to be bothered.

Then the brick fell.

Right on my big toe.

A friend posted a message on social media proclaiming,

Some of us need to get our notes out of our notebooks and into our lives.

Then she asked for one practical way we could live out what we read in God’s word.

Immediately this came to mind, “see a need; meet a need.”

Brick. On. Toe.

Visions of the two opportunities I missed in the week prior flashed before my eyes.

The elderly women walking on the side of the road with at least 10 bags of groceries on her arms and I drove right past. I even asked myself if I should stop and I didn’t.
Then there was the woman with the busted windshield driving into a parking lot that appeared to be waving for help. Unfortunately, I drove right past because I was consumed with getting to my next place on time.

See the need; meet the need.

I know this, and yet I was running around too busy.

Being too busy to be bothered is a sure-fire way of missing blessings.

Blessings that we can extend to others on behalf of the Lord and blessing we too can receive. I already know that I don’t want to be that busy or that self-absorbed. That’s why missing these opportunities weighs heavy on my heart.

My heart’s response to the social media post is how I want to live my faith out loud. It is my synopsis of the verse in James that says,

“…be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22

My busyness wasn’t allowing room for my heart’s desire to be lived out loud. Preoccupation with self was interfering with the extension of my faith to others and thus the missing of blessings to all.

Bricks on your toe hurt.

I could stop there and be bruised.

I could beat myself up over the realization that I missed helping another.

But the better thing is to prepare to react differently.

I want to learn from my failure and grow.

Have you been there?

I sense I am not alone.

We can learn to respond differently by predetermining now how we will react the next time an opportunity to help another knocks at our door. We can declare now that when the knock comes we will set aside our busyness and meet a need.

Will all the DoAhead Women join me in declaring that we will decide to be women who see a need and meet a need when it is within our ability? Not within the time-frame and convenience of our schedule, but when it is within our ability.

When the opportunity knocks, may we be women who answer.

No more missed opportunities!

Your DoAhead Friend,