Matthew 5:7
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for."
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Today, I attended the funeral
of my parents’ neighbor, Barbara Heathcott. Barbara and her husband,
Eddie, have been my parents’ neighbors since the mid-1980s. Two weeks
ago, Barbara received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Things
progressed very quickly after that, and now she is in heaven. I feel
certain that my own mother and daddy were thrilled to greet her there.
At
the service, the pastor tearfully talked of Barbara and her spirit of
“servitude.” The obituary even stated…”Barbara was generous, sometimes
to a fault. She loved helping others.” And truly she did. Barbara was a
great cook, and she fed my parents more than once when they were ill –
and sometimes just for fun. The pastor noted that any time someone was
sick or bereaved, Barbara prepared more food than she ought - just to
comfort them! He also mentioned her “Christmas,” which consisted of
delectable sweet treats, including chocolate covered cherries. The
pastor said, “It wasn’t really Christmas until Barbara brought
‘Christmas!’”
My parents’ neighbor Barbara was incredibly
“care-full.” She was also truly cared for, as evidenced by the chapel
packed today with people who crowded the pews and stood along the outer
walls in order to pay their last respects.
The pastor noted
that he last saw Barbara two weeks ago – at church - the day before she
underwent surgery that was supposed to have offered her a chance at a
cure. Barbara hugged the pastor and told him, “I’m going to be fine.”
The pastor commented…”I’m sure that she is.” Another neighbor told me
before the service that she and her husband visited Barbara in the
hospital last week, and she said, “By the time we left, Barbara had made
ME feel better!”
Not everyone has the gift of caring to the
level of women like my mother and her neighbor, Barbara. If nothing
else, we can be kind and loving…smile and be pleasant…offer to help when
and where we can. We don’t have to be extraordinary cooks in order to
feed hungry people in the middle of a health crisis or when a death
occurs. We don’t have to be gifted writers to send a note or e-mail
message that says, “I’m thinking of you,” or “God loves you, and so do
I.” We don’t have to have a lot of money or be super attractive in
order to make a difference in the life of someone else. The bottom line
is that people really don’t care what you know until they know that you
care. And as Christian disciples, it is our job to care!
I
am sure that most of the people who attended the funeral today went
away inspired to care more – and to do more for others. I know I did!
Clearly, God blessed Barbara’s efforts…she was truly “care-full”
in her earthly living. And now she is blessed beyond measure by the
reward of Eternity spent in heaven. If God gives out assignments there,
I’m sure that Barbara’s hand has already shot up to offer to cook and
care for others! And that is an amazing legacy for any Christian
servant!
So what will be your legacy as a Christian
servant? Five months ago when my mother died, her neighbor didn’t even
know she was having any problems. And now both women are in heaven.
Barbara made every minute of that five months – and most of her 77 years
- count for Jesus by her efforts to care for others. Can you say the
same? Don’t you think we should at least give it a try?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label servant's heart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label servant's heart. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 1, 2015
Luke 22:24-30
And they began to argue among themselves as to who would have the highest rank in the coming Kingdom.
Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men order their slaves around, and the slaves have no choice but to like it! But among you, the one who serves you best will be your leader. Out in the world the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. Nevertheless, because you have stood true to me in these terrible days, and because my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I, here and now, grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I cannot tell you how many times I visited my Mam-ma Polly when she was sitting down at her table to a plate of food that would barely feed her, and she would say, “Sit down and eat with me.” And when I did, we’d both walk away from the table stuffed to the gills. Somehow those “little piddlin’ amounts” multiplied into a feast that sustained us…and filled our bellies AND our souls. Even now as I remember this…or especially when I cook one of grandmother’s signature dishes, I get that same warm feeling. I sense her presence…her love…her generosity and servant’s heart.
Like all of us, my Mam-ma Polly was not perfect. But for the most part, she always thought of others first. She found someone to serve virtually every day of her life, and did not discriminate in the least. And while she might have told you that she was “a poor ‘widder’ woman” she was one of the “richest” women I ever knew.
When we eat and drink at the Holy Communion table, we should all be reminded of Jesus and how He served us…how He taught us to love and serve ALL others…and how He took OUR sins upon himself. When we eat the bread and drink the wine that Jesus told the disciples were his “body and blood,” we are in reminded of our sins…because His body and blood of were exchanged for them.
We cannot physically share a meal with Jesus until we enter into His presence in Heaven. But this rite of Holy Communion serves as a reminder of Him…of what and who Jesus died for…and warms our heart and soul with His presence. This particular practice of the church is truly one of the most holy and precious demonstrations that we make as Christians.
At some point this week, many of us will likely share Holy Communion. As you do so, think of Jesus…the “Servant” who became last so that He could be first…our King of Kings. Remember that He gave His body and blood so that we can once again dine with him someday in His Kingdom. Remember that Jesus promised His disciples a place at His table. Remember how a “little piddlin’ amount” of bread and wine have come to symbolize the greatest gift we will ever receive…salvation through Jesus Christ – and a heart and soul that are brimming full!
Humble yourself as His servant…become “last” on this earth in order to be one of the first in line for a seat at His table in Heaven. In Jesus, we will never go hungry. He is inviting each of us to…”Sit down and eat with me.” Won’t you take Him up on His offer?
©2015 Debbie Robus
And they began to argue among themselves as to who would have the highest rank in the coming Kingdom.
Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men order their slaves around, and the slaves have no choice but to like it! But among you, the one who serves you best will be your leader. Out in the world the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. Nevertheless, because you have stood true to me in these terrible days, and because my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I, here and now, grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I cannot tell you how many times I visited my Mam-ma Polly when she was sitting down at her table to a plate of food that would barely feed her, and she would say, “Sit down and eat with me.” And when I did, we’d both walk away from the table stuffed to the gills. Somehow those “little piddlin’ amounts” multiplied into a feast that sustained us…and filled our bellies AND our souls. Even now as I remember this…or especially when I cook one of grandmother’s signature dishes, I get that same warm feeling. I sense her presence…her love…her generosity and servant’s heart.
Like all of us, my Mam-ma Polly was not perfect. But for the most part, she always thought of others first. She found someone to serve virtually every day of her life, and did not discriminate in the least. And while she might have told you that she was “a poor ‘widder’ woman” she was one of the “richest” women I ever knew.
When we eat and drink at the Holy Communion table, we should all be reminded of Jesus and how He served us…how He taught us to love and serve ALL others…and how He took OUR sins upon himself. When we eat the bread and drink the wine that Jesus told the disciples were his “body and blood,” we are in reminded of our sins…because His body and blood of were exchanged for them.
We cannot physically share a meal with Jesus until we enter into His presence in Heaven. But this rite of Holy Communion serves as a reminder of Him…of what and who Jesus died for…and warms our heart and soul with His presence. This particular practice of the church is truly one of the most holy and precious demonstrations that we make as Christians.
At some point this week, many of us will likely share Holy Communion. As you do so, think of Jesus…the “Servant” who became last so that He could be first…our King of Kings. Remember that He gave His body and blood so that we can once again dine with him someday in His Kingdom. Remember that Jesus promised His disciples a place at His table. Remember how a “little piddlin’ amount” of bread and wine have come to symbolize the greatest gift we will ever receive…salvation through Jesus Christ – and a heart and soul that are brimming full!
Humble yourself as His servant…become “last” on this earth in order to be one of the first in line for a seat at His table in Heaven. In Jesus, we will never go hungry. He is inviting each of us to…”Sit down and eat with me.” Won’t you take Him up on His offer?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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