A couple of days ago I was walking through my neighborhood on a hot afternoon. I saw a couple of kids I knew and stopped to talk to them. As I walked away, the thought came to me, “I should come back and give out popsicles.”
God has been in the business of asking me to do some pretty crazy things lately, so I was not completely surprised, but I did think... “God, are you really saying I should walk around giving out popsicles to random people?”….. As for that day, I had the valid excuse that I didn’t have any popsicles to give them. So the next day, I went out and did the easy part. I bought the popsicles. I even put them in the freezer. “See God, I listened.” Well, kind of.
The next day when I first got up the popsicles weren’t all frozen. “Phew!” By the afternoon though, they probably were. Although I’m not sure I even checked! I heard the same voice in the back of my head that afternoon. “Go hand out popsicles.”
“Yes, God, that’s a great idea… but, but…..” --I really didn’t have a good excuse, but somehow I never made it out the door with the popsicles.
The next day came around- yesterday. I was reading my Bible, and what verse did I just “happen” to read? Proverbs 11:25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Oooook. Could God have been any more clear? Refreshing. What is more refreshing than a popsicle in July? “Ok, I really do hear you, God. And I will go!” And under my breath I’m pretty sure I added, “when I have time.” As I’m sure you can guess, I STILL didn’t make it out the door with the popsicles!
Fast forward to today. I knew that there were no more excuses I could use for not going to hand out popsicles. So, feeling a little bit crazy, I packed a bag with popsicles and a scissors and headed out into heat. 95 degree heat.
I was literally talking to myself as I was walking down the street. “What am I doing?” “Am I really just going to go up to people and ask if they want a popsicle?” “This is crazy!” But at the same time, I felt at peace knowing that I was finally doing what I was supposed to be doing!
And you know what? It was amazing. I walked through my neighborhood, up and down the streets. When I saw kids, I told them that I was just out walking around giving away popsicles and asked if they wanted one. The word “just” felt so ridiculous coming out of my mouth. Who “just” walks around with a bag of popsicles to give away for no reason…. Apparently I do!
Let me tell you something, though. I was more than refreshed by the looks on the faces of the kids and parents that I was able to bless today with a popsicle. I have maybe never seen such genuine smiles or heard “Have a great day!” said with quite as much sincerity. Those images will be in my mind for a long time, and I’m so excited to go out and do this again.
It might be crazy. It might be unorthodox. It might even be weird. But I’m ok with that. It is real love for real people. It’s crazy love.
Sometimes I think we are scared to tell God to use us or to send us because the image of “sending” is that we are going to end up in Africa or Chile. Sure, God may send you to some exotic place, and that is amazing! He will use you and bless you there. Sometimes though, God sends us to our neighbors. He sends us out with popsicles and a smile. No agenda. No church fliers. No list of questions to ask. Just an act of love.
Where is God sending you? Are you listening to that call? It may be as simple as handing out popsicles in July.
God has been in the business of asking me to do some pretty crazy things lately, so I was not completely surprised, but I did think... “God, are you really saying I should walk around giving out popsicles to random people?”….. As for that day, I had the valid excuse that I didn’t have any popsicles to give them. So the next day, I went out and did the easy part. I bought the popsicles. I even put them in the freezer. “See God, I listened.” Well, kind of.
The next day when I first got up the popsicles weren’t all frozen. “Phew!” By the afternoon though, they probably were. Although I’m not sure I even checked! I heard the same voice in the back of my head that afternoon. “Go hand out popsicles.”
“Yes, God, that’s a great idea… but, but…..” --I really didn’t have a good excuse, but somehow I never made it out the door with the popsicles.
The next day came around- yesterday. I was reading my Bible, and what verse did I just “happen” to read? Proverbs 11:25 “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Oooook. Could God have been any more clear? Refreshing. What is more refreshing than a popsicle in July? “Ok, I really do hear you, God. And I will go!” And under my breath I’m pretty sure I added, “when I have time.” As I’m sure you can guess, I STILL didn’t make it out the door with the popsicles!
Fast forward to today. I knew that there were no more excuses I could use for not going to hand out popsicles. So, feeling a little bit crazy, I packed a bag with popsicles and a scissors and headed out into heat. 95 degree heat.
I was literally talking to myself as I was walking down the street. “What am I doing?” “Am I really just going to go up to people and ask if they want a popsicle?” “This is crazy!” But at the same time, I felt at peace knowing that I was finally doing what I was supposed to be doing!
And you know what? It was amazing. I walked through my neighborhood, up and down the streets. When I saw kids, I told them that I was just out walking around giving away popsicles and asked if they wanted one. The word “just” felt so ridiculous coming out of my mouth. Who “just” walks around with a bag of popsicles to give away for no reason…. Apparently I do!
Let me tell you something, though. I was more than refreshed by the looks on the faces of the kids and parents that I was able to bless today with a popsicle. I have maybe never seen such genuine smiles or heard “Have a great day!” said with quite as much sincerity. Those images will be in my mind for a long time, and I’m so excited to go out and do this again.
It might be crazy. It might be unorthodox. It might even be weird. But I’m ok with that. It is real love for real people. It’s crazy love.
Sometimes I think we are scared to tell God to use us or to send us because the image of “sending” is that we are going to end up in Africa or Chile. Sure, God may send you to some exotic place, and that is amazing! He will use you and bless you there. Sometimes though, God sends us to our neighbors. He sends us out with popsicles and a smile. No agenda. No church fliers. No list of questions to ask. Just an act of love.
Where is God sending you? Are you listening to that call? It may be as simple as handing out popsicles in July.