“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:17

When I worked at a retirement community before kids, we had a “Decisive Dates” list. It was a month-by-month list of all the events we hosted, routine maintenance that needed to be done, and all the other tasks it takes to run a place that is home to over 100 seniors.

Once I became a home owner, I started my own version of that list. Like everyone knows, we have to keep up regular maintenance on our houses and personal lives too. That list worked great, until it didn’t.

Better said, when I routinely checked the list and did what was on it, things went smoothly. It seems when COVID hit, I lost all discipline and haven’t really checked that list much since.

That’s why my husband’s drivers license expired, we were getting our cars inspected at the very last minute, and we almost forgot to blow out our sprinkler system last fall. All those things we knew we were supposed to do fell through the cracks, and our stress abounded.

After Jesus washed the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper, He explained that He did it to teach them how to serve. He gave them a concrete example of what that looked like. Then, He followed with: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

We are blessed if we do what we know we should. Knowing without taking action is pointless. Good intentions by themselves are just that – intentions. Thought doesn’t help other people; action does.

Thinking about the Ukrainian refugees and their plight doesn’t impact them one iota. Sending money, donating supplies or praying for them does.

Worrying about the sick doesn’t even put a band-aid on their situation. Picking up the phone, writing a card or visiting them does.

Planning to root our kids in faith doesn’t even break the soil. Teaching them to pray, volunteering together and taking them to church does.

We aren’t called to think about all the good we can do in the world. We’re call to do it. That’s how we bless others. That’s how we become a blessing.

Question for Reflection:

*Have I been putting action behind my thoughts to help others?