My “virtual friend” Jon Swanson wrote in his newsletter, Finding Words in Hard Times, Do what you can. It’s enough.
He told this story:
Yesterday at the hospital, a couple came up behind me. The guy put his arm around my shoulder. I asked why they were there. It was a different person than usual that they were visiting, worrying about. I looked into her eyes and said, “Go home. Get rest. There are people here to watch by night.” And then I said, “Most of what I do is give permission. To stop. To breath. To not work so hard to measure up. To stop expecting so much.”
Our church had a weak leader once upon a time. I was on a committee but assuredly not a “leader” of the congregation. For some reason people would come to me with ideas for a ministry. I didn’t have any power, but I simply told them, “Just do it.” Like a presentation from General Colin Powell I had, “It’s easier to ask forgiveness then to ask for permission.”
I give you permission—to be kind, to be generous, to start that ministry. Just do it.
Faith Venture 
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