Wife, mom, daughter, teacher, blogger, crafter, organizer - but most and best of all, I am a Christian. I am passionate about my family and my God. I am married to my best friend and am blessed with a one year old son who keeps me busy all the time staying at home with him. And I am glad to be in the service of our incredible and awesome God.
My great-grandmother was apparently quite a personality–warm, vivacious, talkative, and outgoing. Her name was Grace. And while I didn’t know her, her presence and influence lingers, even to my generation. I was listening to my great-aunt the other day say that Grace gave her some advice a long time ago that’s still true today: to do one good thing for someone else every day.
And what a beautiful goal that is! I fear that too often my troubles seem so overwhelming and distressing because that is where I am setting my eyes upon. When I step back and serve someone else, it often leaves me more grateful, more appreciative, and more aware of how abundantly blessed I am.
It might seem exhausting. Do something for someone else? I already can’t keep up with what I am responsible for! Surely, God can’t expect that of me.
And yet, doesn’t he?
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
I want my son to have the heart of a servant when he grows up. I want him to have a heart that sighs with compassion for those in need. And in order for that to happen, he needs to see a life of servanthood in me first.
An Act of Service, Whether Large or Small
So when I am tired, I still can make time to help a friend. When I feel grumpy, I still need to find a smile. When I just want to lie on the couch, I can spare just a few moments.
Because sometimes we equate service with building houses in the Amazon jungle. We think service must be organized and with people and fundraisers and all-out efforts. And while that can be service, it’s not all that service can be.
Service can also be a text to ask how your sick friend is. Service can be a card sent to a shut-in, with a picture your child drew for her. Service can be making a double batch of dinner and taking the other half to a widow or a young mom. Service can be asking a lonely person over for a cup of morning coffee. Service can be listening to that elderly lady repeat her stories from her youth because her mind is slipping and that is the only thing she can hold on to now. Service can be dropping off a friend’s favorite drink at the office where she works. Service can be watching another mom’s kids because you see she needs that break.
You see, service doesn’t have to be flashy or take up lots of time. Often, quiet, thoughtful ways produce the most meaningful service. In love that seeps throughout your life until suddenly one day, you realize that it’s not something you’re working on but now a habit, ingrained in your daily routine.
I’m not there yet…but I’d like to be. Until then, I look at the “Grace”s in my life and learn from their example of what servanthood really is.
Wife, mom, daughter, teacher, blogger, crafter, organizer - but most and best of all, I am a Christian. I am passionate about my family and my God. I am married to my best friend and am blessed with a one year old son who keeps me busy all the time staying at home with him. And I am glad to be in the service of our incredible and awesome God.
The other day, my son and I got to play outside–really play. Not just kicking through a leaf pile on our way to the car. Not just taking the meandering route into the grocery store–but actual time spent outside, soaking up the sun.
I got some strange looks when I shared that at church.
Because, you see, it’s been raining, icing, sleeting, etc. out here. Which means that our park, while sunny the other day and actually a very pleasant temperature, was ridiculously muddy.
But, you see, little boys (and their mothers) can be washed.
And the benefits of going outside far outweighed the downfalls of it.
You see, I knew that Gideon would want to roll, squeeze, rub, and possibly even taste-test the mud. I knew that he would get grimy and slimy, and that I would too. I knew that this would probably mean another load of laundry and definitely a bath.
But he was so inordinately happy. He ran around from one side of the playground to the other, leaping with abandon into leaf piles, mud puddles, and dead winter grass. He rolled from side to side, reveling in the sheer glory of being in God’s sunshine.
I chased him. Then, I sat and watched him.
And it was a beautiful day. I felt happier, more energized, more, well, human.
I think that there is a correlation to our own Christian service. You know what I mean.
There are those tasks–those services to others that we know we could do, that we even know we should do. But in the doing of it, we might get messy. Sometimes literally (somehow, service often involves cleaning). Other times, emotionally (which means tears and heartaches). Sometimes we might get messy in other ways.
But in the end, on the other side, even if things did not turn out how you envisioned or intended, God grants a feeling of purpose for Him and a feeling of peace. We always feel better after doing God’s work.
So, today, I encourage you to get out there. Maybe your work is playing with a child in the sunshine and mud. Maybe it’s inviting another lonely mom and kid(s) to come with you. Or maybe it’s something else. But today, be brave, grab hold of some sunshine and go out and do it.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ~ 1 Peter 4:10
Be encouraged by these posts as well!
FREE "Gifts from God" 5 Minute Devotional Ebook
It contains 10 devotionals with thoughts & prayer pages, Bible Journaling pages & Memory Verse Cards.
You have Successfully subscribed! Check your email for your encouraging Ebook.
