"Knowing God - Serving others" A road sign

​“Do you think Papa will be proud of me?”  My grandson asked me this question.  Papa had a pile of branches from a tree that had been damaged in a storm.  The branches filled our driveway.  A friend was coming to help remove the large pile.  Eli was eager to help clear the driveway of debris.  Papa had left to help take everything to our friend’s desired location.  Eli was resting, and said –“Do you think Papa will be proud of me?”  Eli’s desire was to help his Papa.  This is the beginning of serving others.

I think about non-profit organizations.  Their goal is not to make money, but the goal is to serve others.  They make a difference by giving of themselves to serve.  They have a cause; service is a key to their success.
 
I also picture Mother Theresa, a woman – a nun, who made it her life’s goal to serve God as well as the poor and needy.  She devoted her life to serving others.  Did you know that Mother Theresa in the beginning of her work as a nun was a teacher?  She prayed this – “Give me the strength to be ever the light of their lives, so that I may lead them at last to You.”  Mother Theresa also did not discriminate based on religion.  Her desire was to serve.
 
Young children can be taught to value service to others.  They can learn how serving affects their own lives as well as those around them.  Another buzz word in education today:  social emotional learning.  Service is application of social emotional learning.  Even those who are “poor” and “needy” learn the power of giving and serving. 
 
When we serve others, we learn about the heart of God.  This is the knowing God part.  God’s desire is to serve His people.  He did this by giving His one and only Son.  God taught His Son well.  His Son gave up His life for mankind. 
 
We have all kinds of people who serve:  our military, police, firefighters, doctors, teachers…  We have people who make it their goal to serve receiving no monetary compensation.  We have people who make a difference because they serve. 
 
Knowing God is serving others.
BEcky