Willing Hands

Willing Hands

From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:16, NIV

I’m going to be honest in saying I’m not really a “kid person.” Oh, I love my own kids, and there’s a special place in my heart for my nieces and nephews and other children I know. But generally, I’m still not a kid person. I did a good job babysitting when I was a teenager because I didn’t want to let anyone down, but my heart wasn’t really in it. And God bless preschool teachers and day-care providers, because the thought of working either of those jobs makes me want to break out in hives.

This is why I was surprised to find myself, every other week, volunteering in the toddler room at church. It started out of necessity—my church needed more volunteers, and as a parent with children that age, it seemed like a given that I would help out. But as the weeks went on, I found myself actually enjoying it. I didn’t mind the messes. I liked snuggling kids until they were confident enough to leave my arms and venture off to find a toy. And I loved watching kids grow and change from when they started with us at eighteen months old until the time they “graduated” to the next class at thirty-six months. Even though they weren’t “my” kids, it was still fun to see their unique personalities emerge.

Sometimes we’re asked to use our gifts to serve God and others. But other times, we’re asked to just use our hands—no special gifts required. Being part of a community means that sometimes we need to put the needs of the collective body above our own, working together as the body of Christ. When we honor God and others by stepping in to serve, we find unexpected benefits, like snuggles from sweet kids, camaraderie with the other volunteers, and friendships with new families in the church.

Consider how God might be asking you to serve in an area where you are not particularly gifted but you have able hands ready to do the work.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Spend an hour serving someone else, regardless of whether or not the skills required are part of your gifting.