Joy in Serving

Of all the things my job demands of me, of all the things my Lord asks of me in working with these kids, the hardest of all is to have joy in serving. It's hard to see the joy, to feel the joy, in the midst of changing diapers, working unconventional hours, being hit, kicked, and scratched.

Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:22-24 

 One more weekend until I have a break for Christmas and New Years. I'm going to need these words this weekend.

When it's hard to feel the joy in serving, I have to remind myself that I'm serving Christ by serving these kids and their families. I have to remember what the families are getting. A chance to rest. A chance to do things they don't normally get to do because of the demands raising these special kids requires. I have to remember that I would have never chosen this for myself. That the Lord drew me to working with these kids. That this is what He's calling me to do, how he's calling me to serve him & his kingdom for his glory. And I'm thankful that the Lord has given me work to do that I couldn't possibly do on my own. Work that absolutely, 100% requires me to rely on Him. I can't even fool myself into thinking that I'm doing any of it on my own.

This past Wednesday morning the staff & fellows delivered gifts to 74 of the families we serve. We all split up in groups of 2 or 3 to deliver the gifts. Me and my buddy were invited into one of the 4 homes we visited. The mom of one of the children we serve, warmly invited us in, to have a seat, to chat. Her husband came in shortly after us. We said our introductions, then he went into the back of the house. The mom went on to tell us how on Tuesday nights when her daughter stays with us, her other daughter has Hebrew school for 2 hours, and her and her husband are able to have dinner together and just talk. As she was saying this, her husband in the back room, walked across the hall to place something on a table, and I could see the biggest smile on his face, as his wife talked about how great it was to have those 2 hours. I'll remember that story and that smile this weekend.