Not many of us will ever do anything that makes the news. That is fine. Jesus set the bar somewhere you can reach it from the kitchen sink.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.Matthew 10:42
Notice the word “only.” A cup of cold water only. No sermon attached, no program, no follow-up plan. Just something cool for someone who is hot.
Small is not the same as small-minded
It is tempting to wait until we can do something impressive. Meanwhile the person in front of us is thirsty now. A kind word to a tired cashier does not feel like ministry. Neither does sitting with someone in a waiting room. But nobody has ever been loved in general. People are loved in particular, one cup at a time.
Five cups you could pour this week
- Send a short note to someone who has been on your mind. Do not ask for anything.
- Learn the name of a person you see every week and use it.
- Offer to pick something up for a neighbor who has trouble getting out.
- Thank a teacher, a nurse or a volunteer by name, and be specific about why.
- Sit with the person sitting alone. Say little. Stay a while.
None of those will take long, and none of them will look like much. They are also exactly the kind of thing the Lord says he will not forget.