Aug 19th, 2020: Praying for Others is an Expression of Kindness

 

It is time to consider kindness considering what we know about the world that we live in sometimes. Having stress in dealing with many unknowns has impacted many working folks. I have decided that I will find ways to encourage people who have returned to work or have been working as different businesses have begun to reopen. These folks have their own worries and concerns as life is quite different now.

I asked a young server at a Vietnamese restaurant about her parents this week. She was first surprised by the question and then found it hard to answer them. Her mother suffered from a stroke recently, and it has been hard not to be able to see her mom because of Covid-19. It was not a busy afternoon, so I asked her to sit down and tell me how can I pray for her family. She has a younger brother in grade 11, and he has no ideas about how the school is going to be like in the fall. Her dad left the family a few years back for someone else. You can imagine the rest of the story.

I had a zoom session with a friend who is working with the oil and gas industry away from home. He has not seen his family since late March. He and his wife have two young boys. Due to Covid-19 and the need for work, he has to stay where he is. Travelling back to Canada means losing his current job. I can feel his stress of being away from home and losing precious time with his growing family. So the best thing I could do is listen to my friend's thoughts and feelings. The conversation ended with a time of prayer.

Finally, I was walking to Chinatown for a meeting last week when I ran into someone I have not seen for months. She was so happy to see me and told me that she has got engaged. "Did he propose with a mask on?", I asked jokingly. She told me that as soon as she is permitted to travel, she will go with him to his homeland of Malta. She works for herself so she will be able to continue with her work there. I asked her how I can pray for her. She was concerned about the cultural differences, politics, meaningful connections with his family,  and being away from her family and friends...

2 Peter 1: 5-8
"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."