The other day a Facebook friend posted the picture you see to your left and it really struck home as to the lies our enemy has convinced many of us to believe when it comes to being of service.
You’re too old: If at 99 a woman who has a talent of sewing can
make a child’s dress everyday—then the sky really is the limit for so many of
us! Maybe you can’t sew and that's okay, but everybody can do something.
Right away some of you are shaking your heads and thinking,
“But Ponnie, you don’t know what my life is like?” And you are absolutely
correct—I don’t know what your life is like—but I do know about life itself.
Maybe you are having some health issues, that’s possible, but is there still something
you can do to take your mind off your problems and sow seed into someone else’s
life?
I have a friend who has been in inner-city missions for
years with her husband. She had a great battle not so long ago with breast
cancer—chemo—radiation—the works! But on her good days (and now she has plenty
because she is in remission) she would crochet things for others.
Okay, so you don’t sew and you don’t crochet—I get it. But
there is still something you can do.
As daughters of the King, I feel it is impossible to not
have some type of talent or gift, to use to help or encourage others. That’s
it! You can encourage others! Maybe your church congregation prints a list of
those who are sick or home bound. Even if you can’t get out to visit (which
would be good if you could) you can send a card or pick up the phone and call
them. So often, those who are sick and unable to attend services feel isolated
or forgotten.
Maybe if you have a couple of extra dollars you can help a
single mom you see struggling. I have gotten a card with $5.00 in it, and it
might as well have been $50.00, for the way it lifted my heavy heart! It
doesn’t have to be something big, so often it’s the little things that can make
a huge impact in the life of someone.
I’m too busy: If our lives are such that we are too busy to
help or encourage someone else…something is very wrong! I know women who
homeschool and have 10, 9 and 8 children—yet they can still find time to help
others. It might be just a phone conversation of encouragement, or a ride
somewhere. Maybe a casserole for someone who is ill. I don’t think I have
met anyone busier than a homeschooling mom with 10 kids, yet she can see the
need in others. So, what excuses are you making as to why you can’t? I think
if we dig deep and really get honest, it's not always so much we can’t
versus we don’t want to.
I see so many sisters in the Body who are discouraged,
depressed and sad. And a great part of it has to do with our busyness in the
Body. We don’t take time to encourage one another. Yes, it takes time to be a
listening ear. It takes time to pray for others. It takes time and selflessness
to exhort your sister. It might even mean you don’t get to do what you had
planned. Planning is good, but we must still allow God to order our steps.
Here’s an example of something I know people do. You are one who goes to a
midweek service or Bible study. I’m talking faithful, never miss it. You get a
call from a sister who you can tell by the sound of her voice, might need to
talk, but you tell her you have to call her back—you gotta go!
Question, “What do you think was more important, attending
Bible study (because that is what you do), or that person on the other end of
the phone?” I’m not talking about foolishness and empty conversations, but the
point I’m trying to make is that we can be so busy with our agendas; we are not
available to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In our busyness we can become
very self-centered, versus Christ-centered. Just as the priest who walked by
the wounded and beaten man on the side of the road—if he had stopped to help it
would have been too much of an inconvenience.
Too broke: You might be in a situation where you have no extra money
to speak of. You might not even have carfare to ride public transportation
downtown and back, or the food in your cupboards is getting low and just a
little too close to empty for comfort. You cannot remember the last time you
were able to buy a new pair of shoes, or your underwear could be getting
raggedy. You might very well be experiencing a lean season…but that still should not hold
you back from being of service to others.
You can enlist the help of your friends or Christ family to
purchase blank cards and stamps and also send encouraging notes. If you are one
who sews or crochets, ask for yarn or material to make something for others.
Hospital NICU wards need blankets and little hats for pre-term babies. They
also need people to come and sit and rock the babies as volunteers. If you have
a phone, call someone (not to complain about your problems), but to let them
know you were thinking about them. Invite someone over who you know is lonesome
to watch a movie. All you need is water and popcorn—laced with laughter and
good conversation.
Sisters, my point is, we all have something that we can do
or give to be of service to others. In other words, “We are not too old, too busy or too broke to serve our Lord.” Amen!
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