Daily Power #194

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

My wife, Amy, loves serving people anytime she can. Awhile back, she had a good friend who was going through a tough postpartum depression. This woman had just had her fifth child and felt totally overwhelmed, clothes piling up and the house looking like a bomb had hit it.

Amy decided she wanted to get a babysitter for our own kids so she could go spend an entire day cleaning her friend’s house. I said, “Babe, that’s a great idea, but instead of paying a babysitter, let’s just pay someone else to go clean your friend’s house.”

My wife looked at me funny and said, “No, I have to do this. I want to give this to my friend. I’m sorry if you don’t understand.”

I sighed and said, “Okay, do what you’ve got to do. Pay the babysitter and go ahead.”

Later when she returned from spending the day at her friend’s, Amy had the most amazing look in her eyes. She said, “My friend was blown away! She was so happy and that made me so happy, and then she started crying, so I started crying.” Hearing her talk about it, I almost started crying too!

Your compassion not only blesses others, but it blesses you as well. Every time you ignore an opportunity to serve someone else, you miss an opportunity for God to use you and bless you. Don’t miss out on what God wants to do in you when you serve the needs of others.

Power Lift

Dear Jesus, you left your glory in heaven to come to earth as a humble servant. Give me the strength and humility to serve others in the same way.