See a Need, Fill a Need 

 

I was sitting in a classroom yesterday while a friend taught us about listening to what we feel needs to be done.

 

It may come as a sudden prompting, feeling or that one more thing to add to a list of things to do.

 

At times, these may come as what we call our gut instincts. It’s like when Mr. Big Weld in the Robots movie says see a need, fill a need. 

 

Sensing what I can do to help even one more person is what I work to pay attention to as my days go rolling along at the speed of light. 

 

I may not have a way to tell others why I know what to do but I have learned over many decades that I now do what comes to me. 

 

It may have looked like taking flowers to a friend when their name and face popped into my mind. 

 

Sometimes, I have had an idea to gather small items and take them over to a friend, not knowing beforehand why I was knocking on the door with a smile. 

 

One time, Brandon and I took a few days of dinners over to a family with hopefully enough variety for each member of the family. 

We gathered the bags and our courage and rang the doorbell. 

See a need, fill a need with courage.

Why courage?  At times, when I have asked what is needed to some folks the answer has been that everything is good and yet when I knock at the door, the smiles and bags are greeted with time spent together. 

 

It may not be the items. What if it is the time to say hello? 

 

That is the part that has become meaningful to me these days. 

 

Here are a few more ways that I have found to see a need and fill a need. 

 

I mentioned gathering items with one purpose in mind when I knock on a door to deliver to a friend. 

One time, as the door opened, a friend smiled and asked what the big bag of goodies included. 

 

My answer surprised both of us! 

I replied that I was not sure except that I felt an immediate need to see that these exact things, toys actually, were brought to her and her family.  

Each item could be chosen by the family members for themselves to hold, laugh about, live with, toss around or set to the side and look at again later. 

 

How ridiculous is that for a set of instructions? 

 

We both grinned and I left. 

 

A few weeks later, this lovely friend brought something to my door. 

 

It was this swirling picture you see here. She used yellow, black, gray and white paint to create a thank you for me. 

 

We smiled again, hugged and I thanked her. 

 

Little did I know that the bag I gave her had come at a time that was needed for her family. 

 

By following my gut instinct and a prompting of goodness we had all been given a sweet experience that I still hold onto. 

Remember to see a need, fill a need?

Are there other times that I remember to see a need, fill a need? 

 

You betcha. 

 

I have a color that helps me to look up and pay attention to a certain family member. 

 

When that color stays in my world then I know it is time to get in touch with this person. 

It is the time to write a note, sit on a patio, and go to dinner. 

 

Be still and check in when our life allows. 

 

Life moves quickly so I need to have a space for the patience I’ve come to as I am here to fill a need for others. 

 

Being aware of the colors around me brings me to a space that I can grow with as I move along.

 

Let’s go back to when I sat in the class my friend was teaching.

It was time for me to do two more things.

 

I also felt it was the perfect time to learn from others. 

and watch for what the others in class need. 

 

Can that be part of seeing a need in order to fill a need? 

Perhaps. 

 

If I am able to be in a moment, present and listen to what is said, participating and engaging, then I can do this. 

 

I am one that looks to help others grow and find what they could do for others. 

 

This can be done together, my friends.

If I am here to help you when I feel the gut instinct to step to your side and you do the same for me then that could lead us to an amazing, 

Awe-inspiring, 

Let’s do kind things for one another groups of friends. 

 

Do you see a need? Let’s fill a need. 

 

One flower, toy and smile at a time.