My wife and her family are absolutely amazing. There are a
number of reasons I could list for why I feel this way, but this little post
will be centered on just one of them—doing dishes on Christmas.
For the last three years Jamie and her family have allowed
me the privilege of joining them in this long time Reaser tradition. It started
when Jamie was in middle school/junior high, and her parents were a little
concerned that their daughter might somehow get distracted by all of the
gift-giving around Christmas and think the day is really about her.
As a result, Jamie’s mom started looking for opportunities
in which they could serve on Christmas day in the local community. In
Clarksburg, a group had organized a Christmas dinner where they invited people
to come for a meal in a local Methodist church (or have the meal delivered).
Jamie and her parents signed themselves up to wash dishes and stay behind the
scenes. (Ironically, the first time I went with them the local TV station
interviewed Jamie about serving there.)
There is something healing that happens in our souls when we
serve and look out for the interests of others instead of just ourselves. I
believe that this gesture that flies in the face of what has become a ‘normal’
celebration of Christmas (lots of un-needed gifts, and a mid-afternoon visit to
a movie theater). Now, don’t get me wrong, movies are great, and the thought
behind most gifts is also wonderful, but they just don’t hold a candle to
serving.
Jesus said that He “came not to be served but to serve
others…”, and when we serve, we are actually following the example and teaching
of Jesus. And what better day to serve than on the day the world celebrates His
birth.
As 2013 gets started, I want to encourage you to look for
opportunities to serve, and then serve. I believe that serving changes us in a
good way. I believe that if we all took a little more time to serve others, our
families would be healthier, our neighborhoods would be safer, and our world
would be a little brighter. And service doesn’t have to be part of a big event.
Often the best opportunities to serve show up in the mundane and the every day.
Here’s to making a fresh commitment to service in 2013!
No comments:
Post a Comment