I Can Do IT!!!

1 Peter 4:10 states…”Each of you shoud use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

I am much more comfortable serving than being served!

I love ministering and helping others!

If you call me and ask for help…I’m there!

However, I don’t ask for help very easily!

It’s not that I don’t appreciate someone’s offer to help…I do!

And I love working alongside others as we complete a specific task or project together!

It’s just that I tend to do things for myself, often not even considering asking for help!

Sometimes I think I don’t ask for help because I don’t want to inconvenience someone.

However, if I am completely honest…I have to wonder…is it because I believe I can do it by myself and don’t need someone’s help?

“I Can Do IT”…is often what I think…so why bother anyone else!

At least that is what I tell myself!

So I wonder…is this a form of pride in my life?

Possibly! 

Probably!

However, I have been humbled!

I recently injured my foot…which caused significant swelling and bruising (and I am still waiting to see if there is a fracture)!

This injury had both the doctor and my family telling me that I need to stay off my foot…keep it elevated and iced!

So basically, I was to rest and let my foot heal!

Not an easy task for me who likes to be on the go constantly!

My first sense of humility came during Sunday morning’s sermon!

As others stood to praise and worship…I stay seated!

I love our time of praise and worship at church…I love lifting my hands…lifting my face to the Lord…praising His Holy, Holy name!

Could I praise God while I was seated…absolutely!

But I missed that time to stand before Him with my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Later that afternoon, my children and grandchildren came over for lunch!

Normally, I would be the one preparing lunch and cleaning up (with their help of course)!

But I stayed seated as my daughter and daughter-in-law fixed lunch…and then brought my plate to me!

Now some of you might be thinking…this is great!  Milk this as long as you can!

But honestly, I wanted to be up helping them with the meal!

And then I believe it was my son-in-law who cleaned up the kitchen!

That’s my job!!  But he did a wonderful job…and I am thankful for his help!

And then Tuesday morning came…when it was time for me to return to work!

Currently, I have to park a little distance from my office!

And walking on crutches to and from my office easy would be no easy task!

So, I made arrangements with our Public Safety Department to give me a ride to and from my office each day!

That first morning, one of our sweet Security Officers met me at my car and gave me a ride to my building!

And another Security Officer met me that evening to give me a ride back to my car!

And I have humbly waited for these rides each day this week, thanking each officer for my ride to and from my car!

I have had several other offers of assistance at work this week…

Doors opened for me…

Drinks brought to me…

Lunch brought to me…

Ice packs for my foot have been brought to me…

Papers filed for me...

Copies from the Xerox machine have been brought to me…

And much more!

Things that I normally do quite easily for myself have been done for me this week!

And each offer of help has been extended with such a sweet spirit!

I have benefited greatly from those who have chosen to serve me this week!

And I think…I am so blessed to serve others!  But others are blessed to serve too!!

Not only do I need to accept someone’s offer to help me…someone’s offer to serve me with gratitude and graciousness…I need to be more willing to ask for help!

God has blessed us with a community of believers…a family…brothers and sisters in Christ who are there for one another!

So, as I have graciously let others serve me this week…I realize that I need to open to asking for help in the future with difficult tasks!

I need to let others bless me!

Maybe you are a little like me too!  And maybe you need to reach out and ask for help when needed!

Trust me…there are many that are more than willing to help and serve!

And just as we desire to use the gifts that God has given us to serve…we need to allow those around us use their gifts as well!

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for allowing me to see how others love to serve this week!  Though it hasn’t been easy sitting back…I realize others around me have gifts that they desire to use for your glory!  Bless them as they continue to serve you faithfully in the days ahead!