Thirteen years ago we were confronted with a staggering statistic.  85% of international students in American universities never see the inside of an American’s home.  Whoa!  Husband and I were shocked and saddened.  Well, we can help with that!  So we signed up with a campus organization to be friends with a foreign student who would be assigned to us.  We had to commit to having them into our home once a month for the duration of the semester.  Easy enough.  Little did we know that our lives would change forever just because we were willing to offer a little hospitality to a foreigner!  In God’s providence we were assigned not one, but two precious, beautiful young girls who welcomed the opportunity to get to know us and learn about America.  They were our delight.  We looked forward to seeing them and we didn’t want to wait a whole month between visits! Soon their friends needed an American family, too.  In the end, we befriended over twenty students.  To this very day, we have regular contact with many of them now graduated, married (Dear Husband even did some of their wedding ceremonies!), have children, and are scattered over the world.  What richness they have brought into our lives!  The laughter, the shared meals, and lasting friendships shared now by FaceTime, emails, and texts that brighten our days are priceless.

This past year of Covid has had many devastating effects, one of which has been to make us self-focused.  It’s natural to be self-centered  when we’re hurting, threatened, or isolated.  Yep, we’ve had the perfect recipe this past year!  (With the exception of mothers with kids home 24/7!). But being self-centered doesn’t make us happy.  In fact, I think many are miserable floating alone inside their bubbles.  I think it’s time to turn our eyes toward meeting the needs of others.  Since the beginning, we were created to serve.  God never intended us to be self-absorbed.  Serving is simply giving our time, energy, and skills for the good of others.    Even in perfect Eden, Adam was given a job to do and he was also given another person especially designed to help him.

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.  . . Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” . . . Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.”  Genesis 2:15,18, 22

The Lord Jesus himself served and gave us an example to follow.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:28

We’re happier and we fulfill our purpose when we serve.

“It’s more blessed (happy-making) to give than to receive.”  Acts 20:35

“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.  Psalm 41:1
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  Hebrews 13:16
“Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.”  Titus 3:14
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”  1 Peter 4:10

How to serve

Be a good listener so you know what the needs are.  Don’t rush in with ways you think will be helpful.  Stop and listen to what is hard or discouraging for that person.  Then try to meet their felt need.  Respect their desires.  Scratch where it itches. 

Be a good time manager.  Allow time in your days to be available.  I write family members’ names in my day planner so I remember which days are better to contact them because of their work schedules.  I also schedule certain times to be open for family and friends so I don’t feel pressured when I take time for people instead of working.  If I’ve scheduled every hour of my day for my priorities, how can I be available to help anyone?   Limit time spent on less important things- whatever that is for you:  TV, social media, shopping.  Work time into your days between other obligations.  Redeem the time wasted waiting.  Call and check on someone.  Text a cute photo to a family member.  These only take a few minutes but can put a smile on someone’s face.

Be a good teacher.  Teach serving by example to your children and grandchildren.  Let them help you help others.  Take them along when you care for others.  Let them contribute and get the satisfaction of giving to others.  The other day I took our 9-year-old granddaughter to help me weed a friend’s garden.  All three of us working together made the job fun instead of an overwhelming chore for my friend alone.  It lifted all of our spirits.

Ways to serve

Serving our families every day is our first priority.  Willingly, cheerfully meeting their needs is our main responsibility whether it’s in person like working to support them, feeding them, making a welcoming home, and giving them time and attention or long-distance loving by phone calls and texts.  

But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”  1 Timothy 5:8

“She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly?  Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?”  1 Timothy 5:10

Serving others can be with an organization like volunteering at a food bank, teaching Sunday School, tutoring at-risk kids, helping at a non-profit, or volunteering at church.  We have a dear friend who volunteered for years with a prison ministry answering letters from prisoners and sending them helpful books.  Another friend uses her influence to make others aware of the consequences of abortion.  And serving can be random as you see a need and meet it in someone you come into contact with.   Simple things like calling to check on someone who is sick, babysitting so a mom can have a break, dropping a meal off for a family with a sick mom, sending a card, or inviting someone for a meal can make a difference in their lives and yours.

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  Philippians 2:4

Let’s commit ourselves anew to being alert to ways to serve our families.  I shudder to think how many opportunities I’ve missed to serve my family because I was so absorbed with my own projects.  And let’s have willing hearts to meet the needs of others whether through an organization or as we see the needs of those around us.  God’s Holy Spirit is ready to help us see and meet needs.  It’s what we were made for. 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10