Service

Service

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

John 15:4

As moms who walk with Christ, we realize that much of our service to people around us happens through mundane things like doing laundry, cooking, or bandaging a scraped knee. But on occasion, we also get a glimpse of something out of the ordinary God is doing that we’re allowed to be a part of. That happened to me this past week.

When I sat down in the chair at the hair salon to get my hair trimmed, I sensed that the woman who was about to cut my hair had a heavy heart. “Please take off about one-half inch all over,” I told her. After a few minutes of chitchat, I asked her how her week was going. She haltingly told me that a close friend of her family had committed suicide that week. No wonder she looks so sad, I thought.

As my hairdresser continued to talk about how she felt, she also raised some questions about God, death, and eternal life. At first, I listened and asked questions. But at an appropriate moment in the conversation, I also shared the good news about Jesus’ death and resurrection. I had just read about it in Matthew two hours before my haircut.

I left the hair salon that morning with mixed feelings. I felt sad to be reminded of the awfulness of sin and death. But I also felt thankful for the opportunity to share the news that Jesus offers us forgiveness and eternal life, because we’re all incredibly needy.

Later in the week, I delivered to my hairdresser a plate of homemade cookies, a card, and a copy of Grieving a Suicide by Albert Y. Hsu. I left the salon that day feeling grateful for the opportunity to serve Christ. I can only serve him as I remain in him.

Father,

Thanks for the joy that serving you brings. We want to stay close to you. In our Savior’s name, amen.