I am going to list two columns. Column A will be a list of things that we worry about and pray over. Column B will be a list of actions. The things in A do not directly correlate with things on the same line that appear in B.

Column AColumn B
Yemen
Foster a child, adopt a child, or donate a duffle bag to a shelter so that children in the foster system have something more than a garbage bag to carry their meager belongings
100,000 overdoses a day in America
Train to become a Volunteer at a suicide prevention hotline
SyriaWork at any organization that provides food for those affected by war, natural disaster, poverty or illness
1.4 million attempted suicides every day in AmericaVolunteer to coach a sports team or lead a scouts program or buy cookies from a Girl Scout without telling them off for selling cookies
LibyaDonate feminine hygiene products to shelters or prisons where females do not get an adequate number of supplies
Areas of the world where Female Genital Mutilation is practicedTeach ESL, volunteer as a math or literacy coach or be a language buddy and help a recent immigrant with their language skills
ChadRun for office
Cities where homelessness has reached Emergency StatusTrain as a first line responder, therapist or social worker
Areas in the world were Women are not allowed to receive an educationBuild a house with an organization that does this
UkraineHelp an elderly neighbor with errands, babysit for a new parent, help someone whose needs are greater than your own

The things I listed in Column A and Column B are partial lists. There are so many more problems that we face in the world, but I just threw out the first ten that came to mind. There are also more ways to help those in need- again, just the first things that come to mind.

We can’t solve every problem. New problems start every single day.

But each and every one of us can still do something…

However, Here’s some things to try not to do:

  1. Don’t play the game of one tragedy is better than another. Every tragedy is a tragedy. Every single thing I listed in A is something that is horrible and real people are suffering every day.
  2. Be very careful when playing the there but for the grace game. When you compare your life to someone else’s, you are literally saying I am grateful that I am not you. Is that really what you are grateful for?
  3. If anyone complains about the price of anything, please don’t give them grief. You do not know how a rise in prices effects their family. 6 dollar a gallon gas could be what breaks them.
  4. Stop saying that the Russian people are bad. To say that every Russian citizen is backing Putin is to say that every American backed Trump or currently backs Biden. These are just people who are caught up in a war that they most probably do not want. They are suffering too. Their news is probably being censored…And their lives are probably being threatened. If someone holding a gun said to you “Fight or I kill your family” what would you do? Seriously- you don’t have to tell me, but I want you to think about how you actually would react in that situation.
  5. Stop thinking your immigrant from Russia neighbors are plotting against you. While there might be a cat among the pigeons, they are most likely people who emigrated because they wanted a chance at a better life. Allow them that curtesy. And just remember two words: internment camps. It wasn’t a good look then, it isn’t now.

Pray, or ruminate, or whatever you do for the people who are experiencing hardship and war and threats on their person. Pray for the displaced persons who have lost their homes and their families. Pray for those who have suffered unimaginable horrors.

Then go out and help someone else.

Imagine a world where we each help someone whose needs are greater than our own… We might not stop a war, but think of what we could accomplish with our actions.

Actions still speak louder than words.

47 thoughts on “Anything Can Happen Friday: Think and Do”

  1. Displacement, homelessness, joblessness, etc regardless of the reason is something very near and dear to my heart. Your practical suggestions are a springboard of ideas for those who ‘feel’ it but haven’t a clue as to where to begin to ‘do something’…
    For myself, I know for a fact that every action, thought, concern MAKES A DIFFERENCE no matter how ‘small’ (a societal judgment that often hinders any sort of action by those concerned, further complicating responses).
    BTW: great list! (from one list maker to another)
    🙂

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  3. Awesome post LA! Love the part especially about not hating all Russians and not knowing how 6 dollars may be a breaking point. We don’t know the stories of others, period! So just be KIND!
    Thanks for the poignant post!

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  7. I totally agree. It takes so little to help others. I just donated to a cause at work. Our first shift supervisor is asking people in our department to donate to a certain cause that helps refugees. It feels good to be part of a team that cares. Loved your post!

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  10. I actually feel bad for the Russian families, the ones uninvolved in the war, nor supportive of it, just trying to put food on the table and raise their kids to have hope and dreams…the sanctions and now pure hatred coming at them will have detrimental effects long after this war has ended. It’s very far-fetched, the damage this war has unleashed due to one inconsidetate power-hungry, egotistical bully. .

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  13. Which one will you focus on? Help someone whose needs are greater than your own is something I do a little bit each day with my students-finding the right way to reach them academically or even finding more about a pair of shoes which fit from the office social worker-pursuing little things which mean the world to someone less able to call the shots.

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    1. I volunteer with an organization that prepares meals for people who are Ill. I also donate socks and feminine projects to shelters. Pre Covid I was a language buddy but they haven’t started that up again. Plus I have charities I donate to

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      1. Good for you. Mine is partly my job, partly my heart giving with action, and I was a guardian ad litem for the court system for 5 years. Stressful but rewarding. Husband volunteers with Building Habitat. We walk the walk. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. #4 is the one that hits me the hardest. The people in Russia and Ukraine are, for the most part, like us, pawns of their governments. Right now the world chaos is overwhelming. Just look at how many countries you listed. That, as noted, is just the beginning. So much suffering and so much that we really can do little to help with, but we can show kindness to the people we live with and encounter. We can let someone else have the big washing machine. We can hold the door for the pregnant mom with two kids in tow. We can call someone just to wish them a good day. A timely post!

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  16. Yemen…my cousin’s wife’s family is from there
    Syria…my grandmother’s family birthplace
    Russia… another cousin married a Russian and adopted her second child from an orphanage. I feel for my younger 20 something adopted cousin…
    Why is Russia more so than any other dictator douchebag lead country feeling the wordky wrath…what about China, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela ect
    I can’t help but have compassion for both country’s people. The keyword being “the people”

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  18. Very well said, thank you. I agree that there are ways that each of us can make a difference, and you gave some very practical suggestions to get people started. I also hate the way some are trying to shame anyone who complains about inflation or the price of gas. Before the steep rises, many people were just hanging on by their fingernails. The new prices could well mean they can’t pay their rent, can’t afford to drive to their jobs, etc. They don’t need to hear, “just be grateful you don’t live in the Ukraine!” Our problems are very real to us, even if others don’t understand them, and no one should be ashamed of their situation, I believe.

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    1. I don’t like anyone telling someone they’re selfish when all that person is thinking about is taking care of themselves and their family. It’s the equivalent of “eat you dinner because there are starving children in Africa”

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  20. #2: I’ve been saying this forever, and I’m glad to see someone else gets it. Be grateful just because you’re grateful, not because you’ve compared yourself/situation to someone else’s.

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  21. I recently read a friend’s post on Facebook, about how the price of gasoline is putting a financial strain on their already struggling family. Someone commented and said “You will be okay” and then went on to remind her of what the Ukraine people are going through. I couldn’t let it go and responded to that individual how her struggle isn’t diminished because someone else has it worse in the world. This kind of stuff just really gets to me.

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    1. That’s just it!! There are very real challenges people will face, and it’s horrible to say pat statements like that!! We are not selfish if we worry about taking care of our family!

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