Serving Others (Part 2)

Continuing from yesterday.  If you missed it here’s the link to part 1. 

The next year whoever was in charge of the food purchased cupcakes with frosting, cookies, chips.  Oh.  My. Word.  Then came all the yakking about the unhealthy snacks.  One lady in charge of her class ordered me not to serve her class lemonade.  She went on and on about the sugar and how they would all be bouncing off the walls.  So I obediently served her class water. 

The next day I had all the waters ready for her class.  Well it turned out the lady from the previous day wasn’t there and someone else was taking her place.  I presented the class with the tray of cups of water all prepared.  “What? You mean they don’t even get lemonade?” she questioned angrily and marched off to complain to the lady in charge who of course looked at my like I was crazy that I hadn’t served lemonade like I was supposed to.  That was just one example of many I could tell you.  Wow Christian!  Nothing sucks the joy out of a room like the constant complaining.   I went home every day so happy it was over and dreading the next morning. That’s the last year our family participated in VBS.  Sad right? But to me it just wasn’t worth it.

4. Serving is not my gift. One day Jason and I took the 5 Love Languages Test online.  I’ve always heard about it, but had never done it.  Jason and I took it at the same time and then looked at the results.  It was then that I had this huge aha moment.  At the very bottom in last place was “Acts of Service.”  It’s not my love language or my gift.  It’s not what makes me feel loved or how I naturally show love to people.  Interesting!  And then I looked at my husband’s profile.  In last place on his also was “Acts of Service.”   Ha ha!  I guess we will probably never be that couple that’s constantly doing. 

Things made so much sense!  You know when I’m laid up and feeling awful, that’s the last time I want people coming over to my house.  I certainly appreciate the customary meal.  But when I’m laid up seems to be the time that family and friends alike think they should come over to serve while I’m just wishing they would go away and leave me alone to get well and come back when we can have some fun.  On the other hand family and friends probably wonder why I’m not at THEIR  house serving when they are laid up.  Oh wow, viva the difference right? 

Luke 10:39-42New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

This account in Scripture has always been comforting to me.  While it feels like all the women around me are Marthas, I have always identified with Mary.  That would have been me.  All that serving can wait. 

All these things had been on my mind, and I was feeling very convicted, which is a good thing.  I do need to step out and help even when it’s not something I think is essential, when it’s something I don’t feel good at, when I have to endure complaining, and even if it’s not my gift.  Those aren’t excuses for not serving. I still have to keep plugging away.  I’m not giving up!

If you are the opposite of me, the one doing everything and wondering why people aren’t helping, I hope this might be of some insight into the other side.