Friday, September 26, 2008
A CUP OF COFFEE WITH AN ALCOHOLIC
The Christmas card I carry in my bible is over 10 years old, and still serves as a powerful reminder of how simple Christianity can be sometimes. The card came from a sweet teenage girl named Cindy. There's nothing fancy about the card, but the words still rip at my heart.Cindy's dad had been an alcoholic all his life. Occasionally he'd call me and we'd meet to talk, over a cup of coffee in a local coffee shop. One day out of the blue he mentioned to me that he'd like to "get cleaned up" and get off the alcohol. I immediately called his bluff, and amazingly after a couple of tries, he did exactly what he said he was going to do. To this day, 10 1/2 years later, my friend is still dry.
The first Christmas following his recovery, his beautiful 17 year-old daughter sent me a Christmas card that said, "Thanks for giving me back my dad." I was dumbfounded. I never realized that I'd done anything significant. In fact, I really didn't do anything to help her dad other than just be his friend and meet him for coffee when he needed to talk. Yet, she said that was what he needed at the time.
Who knew drinking coffee with an alcoholic would pay off. That's why I always carry that card in my Bible, simply to remind me how easy it is to make a difference in someone's life and not even know it. Who knows what simple things we could do today that might have a huge effect in someone's life. Something as simple as...Such simple things can make a difference in the life of another person, if you slow down enough to do them.
- Sending a note of encouragement.
- Calling to check on someone.
- Being kind to someone unkind.
- Asking someone, "How are you really doing?" and allow them to tell you.
- Visiting a lonely person.
- Buying someone lunch.
- Telling someone you've been missing them.
- Giving someone a hug.
Never, ever, under estimate the power of simple Christianity.
Now, don't just sit there, get out there and DO something simple today!
Labels: Christian Living, Ministry
posted at 
13 Comments:
Thanks for that post. I needed that reminder. I have a couple of notes like that I keep with me but still manage to for get. your post are always so encouraging!
I'm convinced that the power of Christianity is in the simple such as the simple acts of service that you listed.
Where "we" get into trouble is with the (issues, color of carpet, ect.) complex.
Thanks for the reminder and God bless your "dry" friend and his family.
So much of being who we are supposed to be is BEING THERE.
Have a great weekend.
Grace and peace,
Tim
See your "simple thing" today is to remind all of us that it is about the simple things!
Thanks Trey!
Go 88!!
Wonderful post Trey!
:-)
It is encouraging to know that simple things matter.
But why is simple so flippin' hard!?
Of all the things I have to do in a day, you'd think the simple ones would be easy to squeeze in!
My theme this past week has been the need to interrupt my priorities for the things that SHOULD be my priorities.
How do things get so jumbled so fast?
This post was a great reminder. Could you please post it again in an hour or two... and an hour or two after that... and an hour or two after that...
AMEN!
We sure can complicate the simple, can't we?
you know what i have stuck in my bible? a name tag that says "trey morgan, childress, tx" from who knows what youth event - who knows how many years ago! and it's LITERALLY stuck...as in, you took it off and stuck it to the back page of my bible. it's still there. and it still reminds me how great i think you are!
hugs from keller today!
Shei - You made my day. Thanks!!!
that's great! i hear that sharing a bottle of whiskey with an alcohol doesn't turn out so well...
what an awesome reminder. It really can be THAT simple. Thanks Trey!
We don't have to be outrageous or loud or brilliant to be effective Christians. Sometimes just showing an interest or passing along a smile can make a difference in someone's day. Often a person just needs to know that another human being is happy to listen.
Diane L. Harris
http://www.steppingintothelight.net
Post a Comment
<< Home