Hello! Today I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday. Our topic today is to show and tell how you serve others. Here are the other topics we have discussed this year:
When I got to thinking about today’s topic, a lot of things came to my mind. There are so many different ways to serve others, and everyone does it differently. How I serve someone might look completely different from how my neighbor serves someone. The key is that we are constantly looking for ways to help and serve others.
Here are a few ways that I like to serve others and a few ways to serve others that I want to start doing more of:
1. Help your family.
This is something as a mom I do A LOT! I’m not just talking about helping your kids and spouse, though. When is the last time you helped a family member? You could cook supper for your sister’s family and take it to them. You could help your mom clean her house. You could help your cousin paint her new house. Whatever the situation may be, there is always a way to serve family. Sometimes the people closest to us are the ones we forget to serve the most.
2. Volunteer at church.
This is something I need to work on. When we went to church where Chris’s dad pastored we helped ALL THE TIME. We ran the sound, we did the videos, we worked in the nursery, etc. Now that Chris’s dad isn’t pastoring anymore and we attend a different church here in our town, we haven’t volunteered as much. I blame it on being so tired from teaching, that the last thing I want to do is teach a Sunday School class or work with kids at church. I have been selfish and like my time of sitting in the church pew and getting to hear the sermon firsthand. However, I know that I should volunteer more. What better way to spend your time than to invest it into lives for Jesus?
3. Donate clothes/household items.
Another way to serve others is to donate things you no longer use or need. Chris and I are really good at this. Since Teen Challenge has a thrift store, it is easy to donate all of our old clothes and unwanted household items to them. I feel like we are constantly going through things every few months to donate to the thrift store. It feels good to know that things we used to love and/or no longer need will go to help someone else. Plus you don’t have to worry about the hassle of yard sales!
4. Listen.
Part of serving others is to be there to listen to them. Through teaching, so many times I have found that students just want to be heard. A lot of them don’t have the chance to share their opinions or ideas with an adult. It is nice to be able to sit down and talk with students and truly listen to them. You can learn a lot! I believe this is true for adults also. I try to serve others through listening to them. I like to think that anyone that knows me knows I will always be there for them to listen to them and help them wherever I can.
5. Be an encourager.
I try to be a very positive person. Sure, I have my days where sometimes I just don’t want to be uplifting, but for the most part I try my best to be the “light” for others. Write an encouraging note to someone. Compliment someone on their outfit. Send a friend their favorite candy bar. These small acts of kindness can make a BIG difference!
There are so many other ways to serve and love others. Babysit your neighbor’s kids (for FREE), deliver a meal, pay it forward, hold the door open for someone, SMILE at someone, etc. No matter how big or small the gesture is, just start trying to think of other’s needs before yours and I know your outlook on life will change drastically.
Hope you have a great Tuesday!
~Jen
Love this topic so much!!! And couldn’t agree with you more!