Tuesday was a pretty average day for me. I make my kids school lunches, I chat over
breakfast with them and slurp my morning coffee. After I drop them at school, I often head to the YMCA or go
to the lake to get some exercise.
Sometimes though, (as was the case on Tuesday), I go to volunteer at the
Siloam Family Health Clinic which is a non-profit health care clinic
serving patients who lack insurance or who have difficulty accessing health
services.
You might think that I am bragging about my work with the
uninsured, but actually, my work there is very easy. We are usually helping clean out storage closets or writing
prayer cards. Since I am not
medically trained, it’s not as if I am bandaging up refugees or something. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I can
serve the clinic in any way I can and I do think the jobs we do behind the
scenes are helpful, but I don’t feel like it’s anything out of my comfort zone.
After my short 2-hour volunteer shift at the clinic, I
drove through the bank to make a deposit.
Then, I was headed to the grocery store when I felt the sudden urge for
Starbucks. I felt I needed a
little “pick-me-up.” It wasn’t until after the nice Barista at the drive-up window
asked me if I had to work today that I realized how easy I actually have
it.
I mean, seriously, my kids are in school all day. At least some stay-at-home moms have to
wipe noses and bottoms of toddlers all day. Me? I run
errands and do easy volunteer work and peck away on my computer.
But after an easy morning of volunteering and going
through the drive-thru at the bank, I need a pick-me-up!? What have I actually done really? I didn’t even get out of my car at the
bank or the Starbucks. If there
was a drive-thru grocery store, I’d probably do that too. And I don’t even have kids in my car! I could easily hop out and hop back
in. It’s ridiculous I tell you.
I have friends both near and far that do actual hard work
that would definitely warrant a “pick-me-up” on any given day. Friends with multiple children and broken
shoulders, who are giving their lives away to the PTA. Friends learning new languages as they
minister to people in foreign countries.
Friends trooping around the globe taking photos to raise money to helpthe poorest of the poor. Friends
with paying jobs who still make dinner for their families. My own husband gets very little sleep
and is saving kid’s lives for Pete’s sake!
On Tuesday, I had a realization that the world keeps
telling me I deserve a rest or a coffee or a cupcake or a vacation or a
manicure. And after two simple
errands on Tuesday, I was ready to buy into that message. But, in reality, I don’t deserve any of these little perks.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a manicure
from time to time or a cupcake (or a cupcake AND a manicure). But,
I think I should be abundantly grateful any time I get to indulge in one of
these little diversions.
Grateful rather than entitled—grateful for this easy
season of life and open to the Lord’s guidance on how to serve Him in all this
abundance. One way I know for
sure. I can stop thinking about what I can get out of the day and start
thinking about what I can give.
We are called to be salty and shiny. I will focus on making sure my interactions with others are
seasoned with love rather than complaints about my day. I will pray that Jesus’ light will pour
out of me to illuminate and warm the lives of others.
The great thing about these two “tasks” is that they are easy when done in His strength.
If you are in a season of difficulty—diapering bottoms,
fighting illness, saving lives, giving tirelessly to the poor, sharing the
gospel in a country not your own, then please, by all means, take a rest. Grab a coffee or a cupcake. Put your feet up from time to
time.
But, if the Lord has shown you that your life is actually
quite easy right now, then it might be time to ignore the world’s whispers of
entitlement (which only leads to complaining about stupid stuff like customer
service or internet speed).
Let’s open our eyes and hands and hearts to being willing to give a little more of ourselves before we go looking for a pick-me-up we think we deserve. Because, honestly, we already have access to the One who offers way more joy and power than a cup of coffee!
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