Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
After spending a wonderful Labor Day weekend vacationing with my family, on Tuesday I found myself in my utility room, knee-deep in luggage and dirty laundry. I spent part of my day unpacking toys, shoes, pillows, food and toiletries. The remainder of the day was spent washing, drying, folding and putting away the laundry.
Between unpacking and putting the clean clothes away, I must have walked through my kitchen over 100 times. At the end of the day, I looked in the corner of my kitchen where a plant, sitting on its stand, was literally dying of thirst. I had not only forgotten to water it on the Friday before we left, but I had been so consumed with putting my utility room back in order that I didn’t even notice its wilting, brown leaves.
Was I always that busy that I overlooked others’ needs around me? What if it had been a hurting friend I passed by in the store? Would I have noticed if she was dying for a drink of God’s living water, or thirsty for a word of encouragement? Or would I be so self-focused that I wouldn’t see her needs, just as I didn’t see the need of my plant?
That Tuesday I resolved to become more considerate of those around me and less worried about my agenda.
Lord, help me to be mindful of the needs of those around me. Amen.