Come Sit Awhile with Me

One day my husband had to leave the house before 6:40 a.m. for an all-day meeting. Knowing James prefer oatmeal than donuts, I got up to fix breakfast. While cooking, lots of thoughts went through my mind.

Just oatmeal. I'm sleepy. Scrambled eggs? James would love that. Tired. May be I will go back to bed once he starts eating. Oh, asparagus that I already washed on Sunday ... It would be good to just sit with him for awhile.

James obviously enjoyed his breakfast. Suddenly, he looked up and said, "Thanks for getting up early and fixing breakfast. I so appreciate you eating with me. Do you know that in the song You Raise Me Up, the phrase 'Come and Sit Awhile with Me' always moves me? It means so much that you sit with me, even just for 15 minutes. I know you are tired."

My eyes got moist. "Thanks. I was tired. Part of me did not want to get up. Part of me just wanted to get breakfast done and go back to sleep. I wasn't ready to eat. But I wanted to sit awhile with you. Now you are telling me the same thing. Come Sit Awhile with me. I actually thought about that."

"Glad to hear. Now I can see that every week when we just sit, talk, sing or walk with Mom, we are giving her a gift."

Human beings yearn for belonging and connection. Every person needs a friend who would listen, or sit, fish, or play basketball with. Caring is not just feeling sorry for someone when bad things happen. Caring is not just doing things for family members out of duty. As followers of Christ, we can learn how to joyously help people by being there. CARE requires being Compassionate, Accepting, Respectful, and Empathetic. As followers of Christ, we already have a new life. With the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we can all become encouraging helpers, like brother Barnabas, by the grace of God.

"News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord." (Acts 11:22-24).

Evangelism, Caring, and Bible Teaching are three vital functions of a church. If you want to gain awareness, knowledge and skills in "Caring and Counseling" in the Body of Christ, please join me at an upcoming course. I will be teaching on two Saturdays (October 15th and 22nd) at Christian Witness Theological Seminary in San Jose. You may audit the course or take it for 2 credits towards a lay leader certificate.

Various background and experience are welcome. No prior experience is required. We will examine Sin and Grace in Christian counseling and learn how to be a people helper. How to do no harm? How to be an instrument of blessings? What are the legal and ethical issues? You will learn principles and practical skills that can be applied immediately to help yourself or someone in your day-to-day life. There will be growth points group discussions and skill practices.

Please click on the flyer at my Chinese blog HERE and register via the link provided at the bottom of that page. Come sit awhile with me at CWTS.