Let’s get something out in the open – I never planned for my 9-5 to be spent working with squiggly, germy, rambunctious, “Can we watch a movie”, “Jessie farted”, “Why don’t you have a wife” little kids. Sure looking back there were warning signs – I taught swimming lessons and loved it, I lead Cub Scouts at Boy Scout camp and loved it, I worked at a sweet preschool (and, yes, I loved it). Obviously God knew the plan and was preparing me for this stage of my life and for that I am so incredibly grateful. Nevertheless, my calling is not an easy one.
Last year I did some searching about the mission of my life and set out to answer the question “what is God’s purpose for me while I’m here?” Eventually, (with The Purpose Driven Life as a catalyst), I wrote a mission statement that I am pretty proud of:
Pursue the adventure of spreading God’s love through relationships, music and serving anyone in need.
Since writing that, I have found my calling to be even more focused on working with kids. Besides the responsibility and honor of working in a public school I have answered God’s call to teach Sunday School to 5th and 6th graders, mentor two 7th graders at youth group, work with an amazing organization that delivers food to inner-city elementary schools for families to take home, and sponsor my little friend from India (we’re bro’s). In addition I am applying to spend half of next summer overseas singing and spreading God’s love (that’s on top of my second job and grad school).
Seems like a full plate, right? Would you call me crazy if I told you that most days it doesn’t feel like I am doing enough? For awhile I thought about joining the National Guard… I rationalized maybe I just need to be more direct in my service. A wise friend asked me last weekend, “Will it ever feel like enough?”
I was raised in the protestant church and believe all it takes to spend eternity with an ever-loving God is 1.) believe in Him and 2.) believe that Jesus died for our sins. Everything else can and will be forgiven (SO INCREDIBLE!) Why then, does it matter if we make a difference while we’re here? Good question, Daphne!
The short answer: because if you truly believe and love God, you listen to his teaching. In Matthew 25 Jesus is pretty blunt about what he expects from us. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40) and later “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”
We are called to help the lowest of the low, the homeless, the hungry in body and soul, the children, the elderly… we are called to help anyway that we can! Therefore, I have come to realize that a true heart of Christ IS the feeling that we can’t possibly do enough. The key however, is to combine that feeling with the faith to understand that whatever we do accomplish, God is proud of us and loves us more than we can possibly imagine.
”Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
So friend, I challenge you to go out of your way to help someone this week. To be more patient than you might be. To show compassion for someone who might not deserve it. To forgive someone who desperately needs your forgiveness. To do what you can to make this crazy world just a little better. Most importantly, I challenge you to stop and pat yourself on the back for the awesome things you already do. Lastly, keep an eye out for even more ways to serve our amazing God. And know that however you’re feeling today, accomplished or unaccomplished, remember
It’s a long walk through this world, but keep walking tall, you’re one day closer to being Home.