I recently saw this quote by Maya Angelou (1928-2014) “If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up. Lift a stranger up – lift her up. I would ask you, mother and father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father and son, lift someone up. The very idea of lifting someone up will lift you, as well.” I found it to be such a positive thing to say.
Watching the news this week, strangers lifted up other injured strangers and hopefully in doing so they will be helped to cope with their own trauma. There are so many incidents when lifting someone can help. An elderly person who has fallen may need help to get up or a crying child may need to be lifted to comfort them. This is a physical action but we can also help lift someone spiritually. A listening ear or a friendly chat over a cup of tea or coffee may lift someone’s mood.
We can also lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord.
Hymn 43 in STF says,
“Come, let us praise the Lord,
with Joy our Lord acclaim,
his greatness tell abroad
and bless his saving Name.
Lift high your song
before his throne
to whom alone
all praise belongs.”
Let’s all see if we can “lift someone” today.