"The last thing a person needs when they are in the middle of a crisis is one more decision to make. Recently, when my husband and I were going through a challenging season physically, we had a number of people tell us, “Let me know if I can help.” And while I love the heart behind those words, the last thing I could do was strategize the “what, when, and how” of support. It was easier to just say, “No, thank you. We’re fine.”

But then, I have other friends who have taken the art of supporting a loved one to a new level.

How do we get better at this? What can we do to avoid saying the dreaded 'let me know if I can help'?

Create a crisis response plan before the crisis happens. Figure out what kind of friend you will be. The gift card friend? The bagel friend? The soup friend? Then prepare accordingly."

Leave a comment for Kathi: https://incourage.me/?p=248591

And here's Kathi's recipe!

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 4 bowls or 8 cups

Ingredients

• 6 T. unsalted butter
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1½ tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
• ½ tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup wild rice (5 ounces)
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups chopped, cooked chicken
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the celery, carrots, onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper (I start out with ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper and then adjust while simmering), and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables just start to soften, about 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, until evenly coated and lightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Add the wild rice to the saucepan and gradually stir in the stock and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
3. Add the chicken and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the wild rice is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Stir in the cream and season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

--
It’s always a great day when a little Hope & Encouragement comes your way. . . especially during National Day of Encouragement, coming up next week! To celebrate, DaySpring is giving away a free card & a fun surprise with every order, while supplies last. Place your order today at dayspring.com - and use code PODCAST10 to save $10 on your order!

The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.

Connect with (in)courage:

• Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more!
• Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives.
• Email us at incourage@dayspring.com.

Leave a podcast review on Apple!