“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” Mother Teresa
I’m uncomfortable walking into a restaurant alone and hearing the hostess say, “Just one?” I remember my waitressing days, being disappointed when I’d get a table of one because it meant a tip from just one.
I recently attended a ballet alone. I was asked the same thing, “Just one?”
My husband and I get a similar question, “Just the two of you?”
I don’t say it, but I’m tempted to ask, “How many people do you require at a table to make you stop saying the word “just”?
“Just” sounds like I’m not enough, like we’re not enough. I question myself and I question us. By the time I’m seated, I imagine at least two of the groups of people I’ve walked by have thought, Surely you can find someone who will eat with you? Why don’t the two of you have any friends?
Is it “just” me who’s bothered by this?
Here’s the thing, though, … I say it also. That’s probably why it bothers me.
When a friend asked, “Who went with you?”
I said, “It was just me.”
Now that I’m blogging daily, my recurring thought is, No one wants to read your 100 blogs posts, especially not every single day. However, one friend sent me a message and said, “I will be reading your blog faithfully.”
One person, just one, assured me that she would show up and be a witness to my writing.
Is one person enough to write for?
The question made me teary. Maybe for the first time since I began my blog a decade ago, I stopped to answer. She is so worth writing for and, if you’re reading this and you’re not her, you’re worth writing for too.
I hope you’ll join the conversation because you and your comments matter more than you know.
In This Together,
Kim
I love knowing this “just one” is just as important as the masses. Thank you for always being honest and sharing your personal life. Being who you are let’s us know we’re never alone.
Susan, thank you, my friend. What a sweet compliment! If you asked what my main goal is for my writing, I think the number one thing I want is to help people not feel so alone. I so appreciate you reading and commenting. ❤️
I was JUST about to ask if you are still blogging….Maybe I need to share this interpretation of that word’s meaning/feeling when it enters a conversation. Often thought it’s the speaker’s intentions to downplay themselves & a way not to appear boastful & to declare humility. For instance, the awesome Praise Band has JUST rocked your world & spirit with His songs, & the Pastor comes out & says, “Hi, I’m JUST one of the pastors here….” That JUST always disturbs Me! It’s as if the person is saying, “I don’t come up here to boast or brag, I’m JUST the Pastor! JUST ???? From where I’m sitting, you aren’t JUST anything. You are a big deal to Me! You have been chosen to wrap my heart & spirit around His Good News! Your part is never JUST! It’s THE real deal!
We have more in common than JUST hungry Christians needing more of His Word! The hunger runs deep & I am so thankful that we are JUST friends grasping & needing more of JUST Him! How blessed we are! In His L❤️VE and for His glory!
Awe, Debbie, I am so blessed to have you in my life, and I knew you’d “get it.”
Just 😆 since writing this blog post, I realize how often I say “just.” I do think we use it often because we want to be humble, but God doesn’t want us downplaying
our part because our part is really His part. He wants our attitudes right more than our words. You’re so right, our part is never JUST when we’re doing what He says to do.
All that said, I have all sorts of wordy quirks. I guess that comes along with being a writer. LoL
I feel the same way, the people in my life are a BIG deal. No one is just a friend. Love you and your comment! ❤️
I love reading your blogs Kim!!
Tina, I LOVE having you here! Thank you. ❤️
Kim,
You always nail it ! Just one of me , and I’ll read and enjoy your blogs always . Thank you for being you and putting it into words so eloquently. I always look forward to your next one .
Love Connie
Thanks so much, Connie! I’m happy we’ve caught up some. I miss you when we go too long without talking.
I appreciate having you on here. It’s easier to share honestly when my audience is made up of safe friends like you. Much love. ❤️
Alright girlfriend, you have another one to add to your list of reading and relishing everyone of your blogs daily. I love reading them and relate so much to each of them.
A pet peeve I have is the “we” effect. Don’t you just love when waitresses and waiters (got to be particularly correct here) come around and say are ‘we finished?”
I always want to reply “I am but I don’t know if you are.”
In medical offices “how are we feeling today?” I have to restrain myself from saying, “why don’t you list your symptoms you are having, I will analyze them and then I will tell you how I am doing.”
Lol…But this is just me.
Faye, Faye, Faye! You don’t even know that you’re the friend I’m talking about. You commented on one of my first two blog posts and said that you’d be reading faithfully. The friend was YOU. ❤️ Which makes it even more special ’cause you’re “just” reading along and don’t even know it’s you.
Hahaha, you and me and our wordy quirks! I don’t like “Are we finished?” either … it’s a good thing we keep our mouths shut and practice some self control. Otherwise, we’d have the world corrected. 🤭
I love having you here. Thanks so much for your encouragement that you don’t even know you gave! 😍
Hi Kim, my sister Faye is the one who introduced me to your writing and I have been blessed so many times by it although I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person yet I feel like I have.
Awe, Virginia, thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I’m grateful for Faye and for you. I’ve loved getting to know you a little through her and through some interactions on FB. Maybe one day I’ll have the pleasure of meeting you. Your sweet words mean a lot to me. ❤️
Kim, there have been several One’s in my Life who’ve made a differerence. Some of the One’s are always there to make permanent differences, some One’s make a difference to the need right then.You are One who has made and continues to make differences in many lives. Press on. It may be easier to say to others however when it comes to me, it is also easy to get discouraged without the support and acknowledgment from your support person, groups, peers, clients, or others. Silence does not always mean lack of support. I like how you speak up to encourage, to share goodness, an example when you invited others to hear Jim Riley, ( I have a few times already), when you invited me to try the Sunday School class. Blog on, write on, it is good for me, it is good for others, it is good for you. Big Smiles from One who loves your writing
Awe, Joel, thank you for your sweet and encouraging comment. I really appreciate you. And I’m grateful we’re sharing good and faith-building times at Solid Rock too. ❤️
You’re right, it is easy to get discouraged sometimes when my efforts are met with silence, but I think God allows that to test my “why.” Am I doing this for likes and comments or am I writing for Him? My next blog post is about the audience of One, so it ties right into you talking here about the ones who’ve been there for you. You’re certainly one of my steady encouragers.
Thanks a lot for your readership and especially your friendship! 😍
From my friend Donna …
I’m reading your daily blog too, sister friend!♥️
From Facebook ~
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Audrey Benton Jordan
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Audrey Benton Jordan ❤❤❤
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Loving your 100 day plan readings! I hope to catch them all!❤
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Awe, thanks, Patricia Susie Haselden. I appreciate you!
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Dana Johnson, thanks so much! 🥰
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Joan Pisani, thanks so much! I love having you as a reader and a friend. 🥰
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Joan Pisani
Kim Henson I treasure your friendship 🥰 as well!
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Love it! Love it! Love it!! 💕
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An email from Judy S. ~
Kim, I have been “just one” most of my life…restaurants, concerts, meetings, vacations, etc. I have had lots of stares and comments from others. I have gotten to enjoy many things I would have missed if there was a requirement for more than one. Sometimes my being alone is by choice. Other times I might prefer company. I have also learned to do many things I might not have learned if someone else was around to do those things or pick up the slack. It is all in the perspective of the individual. Don’t let others determine your situation or how you feel about it.
Kim Henson
I especially relate to this part of your comment, Judy, “I have also learned to do many things I might not have learned if someone else was around to do those things or pick up the slack.” Helpful point of view that I’ve experienced also. And I love your last sentence. I won’t anymore. Thank you. ❤️
By the way, you should consider blogging or putting words on paper in some capacity. You express yourself well through writing.
I appreciate you and your comment.