So the other day my team and I were assigned to clean the house we are staying at. It included taking out the trash, sweeping the floors, and cleaning the bathrooms. I got a early start and finished sweeping the floors and went to battle on the boys’ bathroom. It was rather a warzone in there. Anyway I finished and started to go to work on the girls’ bathrooms. It wasn’t bad so I decided to just clean the sinks and toilets. The two girls working with our host parents said that I didn’t have to do that but I already started so I said “too late.” Anyways both girls were very grateful and as a result they gave me some oreo cake and milk. FYI the milk here tastes different but good. Anyway the next day I talked with both girls and they told me that the sister of one of our host parents was going to come in and cook for us and also clean the bathrooms. When she heard that I had already cleaned the bathrooms, apparently she had this look of great relief, and that made me feel VERY good about what I did.
I want to address a phrase that I hear whenever I do some sort of act of service. “You didn’t/don’t have to do that.” Your right I don’t, but I want to do that because of a couple of reasons. For one, you can actually get a physical reward. In my case I got cake and milk! But there is way more to it than just cake. Let’s be honest. You cannot deny the fact that it makes you feel good. Our host parents at least once a day have a meal prepared for us, and ITS A GOOD MEAL. Currently they are cooking for 20 some people each morning and most evenings. Feeding that many people can be tiresome and stressful, but they do it anyway. That is the type of ministry they do and they love it. WHY? Well first and foremost they LOVE GOD, but also I do believe because they enjoy doing it and enjoy the good feeling they get after it.
Before we left for launch one of our speakers who works for AIM named Bill Swan talk about how we as racers should look to benefit others first, or something like that. However you word it that simple command makes sense. It benefits others but along with that, Proverbs 12:14 says “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.” It’s not a physical reward but an emotional uplifting.
Last night I was kinda bummed. I was hoping to play a card game called NERTS but you need about 4 people to make it fun. I had couple squad mates willing to play but when I asked the group if anyone else was interested I believe everyone was excited to watch a movie. That was okay because I think people needed it. I went off to my room to clean up and possibly go to bed. Shortly after my teammate Kacie Callison came up and said she would play if I wanted to. I came downstairs and my squad mates Kacie, Brianna, Kyle and Melanie and I all played NERTS. Good conversations arose after we finished and it ended being a lot of fun. It might not have been and act of service necessarily but it was in my book and I greatly appreciated it.
I write this message as a sort of challenge to all who read this. If you can do something to benefit others even though it might interfere with your time, please consider doing whatever that sort of deed is. You might be frustrated that you lost time but if you reflect on how your good deed might help someone, it WILL make you feel better. But more than that, “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:12. Peace Out!
