AL's Voice: Blessing, or Blessed?

I love it when we get to serve alongside our girls. As part of our summer mission week, summerSALT, we went to With Love From Jesus, and Allie fell in love with the ministry. She's been anxious to get back, and today we got to go with our HOPE home group. Jenna and Joe went for the first time. They were more than a little anxious.

During circle time (which is a brief devotion and concentrated prayer), Linda shared that we all come here with the goal in our hearts to be a blessing to someone in need, but often God has a blessing in store for us as well. That blessing usually comes through one of the folks who is receiving help, the one where you least expect it. Jesus works in the lives of those we quickly cast aside (the Samaritan woman, for example). But today, He chose to bless me through my very own daughter.

For Jenna, who is 9 and small for her age, there wasn't a lot that she could do to help. But man oh man can that girl stack some yogurt! We were giving way four-packs of yogurt at our table, and she and her little friend got to be pros at taking the yogurt out of the boxes and stacking them on the tables. They had such sweet attitudes and beautiful smiles! I thought to myself, "Lord Jesus, please let me have that attitude when I am doing the mundane things of my life! The things that seem small, or tedious. The things even I can do, or only I can do. Help me to rejoice in the Lord always." You could not help but smile watching those two. It was something so small and so simple, and yet so valuable. And they worked at it diligently, did a good job, and never complained (well, until several hours in when they were bored and hungry!). They blessed my heart. <3

Allie is a blessing too. She had worked that station before, and she helped the rest of us (3 adults) "get it" before the crowds came through. She was not intimated to take the lead, and she did it with respect. She talked to complete strangers. She was firm yet kind enforcing the rules. I sat back for a moment just watching her and thinking, "When did she grow up?" I have lots of moments when I think, "Will she ever grow up?"... so this was a pleasant surprise. In the middle of all that chaos I was able to step back and see my daughter the way others see her, maybe even the way God sees her.

And then there's Joe. He will be the first to tell you that compassion is not his forte. He is quick to judge, and legalistic. I didn't know what we would be doing today but when I found out we were working the deli counter I was nervous for him. But here's the thing -- it was an appointment from God, and HE showed up! It was not easy for Joe, but I saw him purposefully interact with (predominantly) women trying to shop for meat for their families; it was uncomfortable for him. It stretched him. I think it changed his perspective a little, and softened his heart. In big ways and small ways, God answers prayer.

I could share other stories, but I will leave it at this - when we set our hearts on meeting Jesus, drinking of His living water and telling others to come follow... He shows up and does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).