Givng at the Right Moment is Important: Talent Tuesday

All talents are equally important and beneficial in bringing glory to God.

 

Yesterday's explosions at the Boston Marathon were extremely sad and unexpected. It's important not to let the terrible overshadow the goodness that came from the terrible. A friend of mine, Debbie, ran in the race and finished before the explosions. A second woman I know, Roberta was still running and was about half a mile from the finish line when the explosions occurred. Both are safe, but the amazing story is that Debbie ran the additional couple of miles back to the hotel to get her things and in hopes of meeting back up with Roberta. Roberta was picked up by a kind Boston couple and taken to the hotel where the couple waited outside and drove Debbie and Roberta to the airport so they could catch their flight back to Ohio. Both women offered to give them money for the ride, but the Boston couple said they just wanted to make a bad experience a little bit better for the Ohio-bound ladies.

There were many awe inspiriting stories from yesterday's tragedy.

I heard multiple stories of residents of Boston that picked up strangers because taxis weren't picking anyone up and other means of public transportation weren't running. These Good Samaritans were helping others in need during a crisis situation for their community.

I heard of runners that crossed the finish line and continued running to the hospital to give blood to those who were harmed in the explosions.

I heard a story of a former NFL football player, Joe Andruzzi  (of the New England Patriots) carried a woman to safety after the explosions. 

I heard a story of a runner that was worried for her husband who was ahead of her in the race at the time of the explosion and could have been in range, but how fellow runners pulled together to aid a woman that spoke little English and was scared and confused.

People helping people. That's what I would say was the theme of yesterday's event. People were there to lend their cell phones, their calls, their shoulders to strangers. All brought together by this one event. It takes a special talent to leave your own worries behind, trust in God's goodness and offer your help to neighbors in need. 

Consider, on any given day, slowing down enough to notice when a stranger might need your help and take the time to offer it.  You don't have to be talented in many ways, as Jean de La Bruyère, a French writer once said, “Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.”