As
each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
1 Peter 4:10
(ESV)
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| ...Sometimes the oddest things can be acts of worship. CLICK AND TWEET THIS |
God
knew I’d be a handful, so instead of one bestie to pray for me, counsel me,
talk me off ledges, He gave me two (He knows). In every way I am able, each
time I view an opportunity to serve, I lean in.
This weekend, I had an opportunity to be in service. My Gayle needed me, and I did what I do. I write.
When
I spoke to her on Saturday, she was still upset. Apparently a careless teacher
discarded every single poem, worksheet, exercise, project, etc., that her
firstborn (my godson) created this year in second grace. Without thought. Without
apparent remorse. Without apology. More
than 24 hours after it occurred, I could hear the sobs catching in her throat.
I had to do something.
When
we are wronged, we take a stand. We allow ourselves to be angry, but seek to
move productively through anger to action. Usually that takes time, and in the
meantime we vent, scream, sob, laugh, and joke about where we’d bury the bodies. She didn’t have time.
When
she called me Saturday morning, she’d sent a sad, sorry emailed paragraph that
clearly conveyed her pain, but just wouldn’t do. I knew that she wanted to
speak beyond her own bitter disappointment, de-personalizing where possible in
order to frame a teachable moment. This was my opportunity to serve.
When
I talked to her later Saturday afternoon, I could hear some progress, could
sense some healing and a little bit of distance and clarity, but she was
nowhere near ready yet. Time, however was running out. So, I seized the opportunity to serve. There
is much I could not do. I couldn’t turn back time and un-ring any bells. What
was lost was not going to be restored by my actions, but I could write. I
listened as carefully as I could to my Gayle and formulated a plan. I’d write
the letter, creating her frame and help her get to her finish line in the
desired amount of time. I could serve.
Saturday
night, after hanging out way too late and partying way too hard with my other
bestie and friends (how blessed am I to have a BFF living across the street who effortlessly combines “hosting
with the mostest” and “party like a Rock
Star” like they were born to go together??, I served my Gayle. I wrote. I
placed myself in her head and her heart, and with objectivity I knew she couldn’t
muster in time, I shaped her words to tell her story. I translated the sadness
and disappointment I heard in her voice into a call to action.
Sometimes the oddest things can be acts of worship. I have a
friend who claims things with Grace, who declares, “this is my worship.” Well,
this conversation was my worship…
I can't
tell you how sorry I am. Mean stupid careless people suck, and I'm suffering
because you are. Here's a frame to get you started, including a close. Love
you…
Love it.
Will pray, discuss with K, and edit for final transmission Monday. Thank
you. I love you! Thank God for you!
I love you more *smile*
(what she always says to me). you're welcome. To God Be the Glory.
Grace Point Devotions biblical commentary helped me understand the guidance found in 1 Peter4.
Hospitality is not a one-way virtue; every Christian is in some
way capable of ministering to others. Every Christian has a gift (Rom 12:6-8;
1Cor 12:12-31) that he has received from God—whether at birth, rebirth, or
sometime after is not stated. Since every Christian has a gift, his being
equipped with it apparently takes place with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
at regeneration. That the Holy Spirit can take ‘natural’ talents and abilities
and redirect them for Christ was most dramatically shown in Paul’s ministry.
The believer is not only to view himself as gifted but also as a steward...
So what happened? An infilling of the Holy
Spirit let writing for my Gayle be my worship. Channeling her sadness into
words and phrases, channeling her tears into a call to action blessed me (pressed
me) into service. I served.
Just today, Shelly
Miller of Redemption’s Beauty posed the question “what do you want your
life to say about you?” Looking back on this worship, I knew my answer…
Hmm...what do I want
my life to say about me? That I always sought the lesson and the joy. Even when
it was really hard....
Lord,
thank You for letting it all be worship. Thank You for opening my eyes and my
heart to see it all as service. Thank You for letting me see, experience, and tell. To be a witness. Thank You for continually breaking me open that
I might be filled with the Holy Spirit, primed to serve. Thank You.
On
Wednesdays, I pray and and play with friends here...
