Serving

I've been thinking a lot about *charity.  I won't say why, because my reasons are entirely selfish and wrong.  So I disregarded the why, and went with the how.  In January of 2013 my husband and I decided that we'd like to find a way to serve.  By "we" I mostly mean me.  In my situation, it's very easy to become cut off from friends and family.  I often feel disconnected from my church.  So we decided that one way to combat this would be to find some way that I could minister to others.  I have often said that the best way to get out of yourself and combat self pity is so help someone else.  So we decided that once a month we would deliver a meal to family that might need it - for whatever reason.  We prayed about it, and amazingly enough we always seemed to have the same family in mind.  Not to give us any credit though, because many months were for someone who just had a baby.  We are in that kind of a church.  Lots of babies.  Lots of opportunities.  Lots of growth.

It was great, but we got a reputation.  We made stromboli.  This was a bad choice (and an awesome choice) on our part because stromboli is the thing that Derek makes.  So instead of my ministering, it became one more thing for an already swamped Derek to do.  He didn't mind, of course, but by December we decided that we were done with that plan.

So a new year is upon us and I am again looking for a way to minister.  In an ideal world I would be able to teach junior church, VBS (oh how I miss VBS!), bake cookies, go to ladies activities, etc. . .  In MY ideal world.  My ideal is wrong though.  Even though those are all excellent things, they are wrong for me because that's not what God has planned for my life.  He has something better whether I choose to see it or not.  I'm not entirely sure what ministry God has for me this year.  I have some thoughts, but nothing concrete.  Please pray for me as I figure it out.  For now, I will do what I know.  I will pray for my friends and loved ones.  It doesn't feel like much, but it really is the greatest thing you can do for someone else.  Every time you pray for someone you grow to love them a little more.  It's the best thing I can do for my marriage, my children, my family, my church, my friends, and the world around around me. 

Here's my challenge - find a way to minister this year.  By minister I mean helping others.  Volunteering.  Do a meal once a month, it's that easy.  Not just for others, but for the good that is does in you.  Just once take some kids to the park so their mom can take a nap.  Help at an animal shelter or food bank.  Just once.  It changes you.  It helps you.  The best part is that you won't even notice because you'll be too busy thinking about someone else.  

I'm excited about the prospect of serving this year.  I'm excited to be able to help someone.  I don't know just how I'm going to do that yet, but I know that God can use me.  If God can use me, He can use anyone.  You want 2014 to be an awesome year?  Let God use you.

God is good, all the time.

*By charity, I mean love.  I mean helping.  I mean serving.  I mean a love that is active, not passive.  Love that gives, helps, does, and serves.  I do not mean pity.  Charity and pity are not at all the same thing.  I do not mean money either.  Monetary gifts are only one small part of what charity really means.

Things to Remember. Things to Forget.

When Aria was born, she was in the NICU for about a week and half.  I was told that the reason she was there was my fault.  Even though I knew they were wrong, and they were treating her for something she did not have, I was racked with guilt.  If I could go back and talk to myself then, I would tell myself about tonight.  My dear little one has a bit of a bug.  Nothing serious.  She'll probably be fine by tomorrow.  But tonight she wants me to sit and hold her.  So I sat in the rocking chair in her room and held her.  I recited Bible verses, told her stories, and sang songs to her.  The cat joined us for awhile (where does anyone sit when I'm not here?!) and we petted her - as if we had a choice.  I would tell myself all of this and add - I don't remember the names of any of the nurses or doctors that treated Aria in the NICU.  Not that they didn't do a fine job, but they were wrong in their diagnoses, and in their wrongness they judged me.  It doesn't matter now.  It didn't matter then.  Here I am more than two years later with a wonderful, sweet, overall healthy little girl.  Today when Derek came in from work she squealed "Dad-deeee!"  Earlier today she laughed and said, "Noah funny!" "Noah funny!"  This was our day today, and that time in the hospital is almost completely forgotten.  Whenever you are in the middle of something hard, something that seems never ending, something unbearable, just remember in two years (or less) it was will be memory.  Although it seems unending, you will be surprised how quickly it's the distant past.  Then one day when things are lovely and good, you will think back on this time and it will seem so small.  Take the strength from it and leave the rest.  This too will pass and things will be so good you will want to drink up every small detail.  God is good to me.  God was good then, and God is good now.  That never changes.  Praise God.

A Christmas Favor

A lot of people seek to do something charitable this time of year.  They donate to a worthy charity.  Some deliver a meal to friends or family.   Some years you just don't have any extra money to give or not enough to give to all those you would like.  You know what you can always give?  Encouragement. Kind words.  This week, out of no where, a friend of mine sent me an encouraging message.  I needed it.  I have left the tab open on my computer to re-read it, as I needed it even more a few days later.  I tear up every time I read it.  I have not responded because I cannot think of words to adequately express my appreciation.
So, if you are looking for a way to give back this Christmas, take a few minutes and tell someone how much you appreciate them.  Tell them that you've noticed their hard work or their kindness.  You don't have to look hard to find someone, but look a bit farther than you usually would and find someone you might otherwise overlook.  Along those lines, I would like to ask for help in showing my appreciation to the hardest working person I know.  My husband.  This Christmas season, if you know my husband, would you mind sending him a message (FB, email, snail mail) and tell him something you appreciate about him?  Unless you live in our house, you probably will never realize how hard he works to take care of me, our kids, our home and a full time (and then some) job.  He doesn't just clock into work and clock out again eight hours later.  He genuinely cares about his clients.  Buying or selling a house is one of the most stressful things you do in this life, and Derek chose his profession because he wants to help people through the stressful time.  It's not easy, but he's good at it.  He invests himself in his clients.  He does it while also being the primary care giver for our small children.  He does that on top of taking care of his chronically ill wife.  He prepares our meals.  He does the dishes.  He cleans the house.  He does the shopping, and anything else that needs to be done.  And he still manages to be a friend.  So, again, please send him a message of appreciation this Christmas.  It won't cost you anything (maybe a stamp if you use snail mail), but it will mean a lot to us.  Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

**I'm hiding this link from him so it will be a surprise.  Please keep the secret.