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25 Days of Gratitude: Day 15


I am grateful for opportunities to serve.

A couple weeks ago, we were able to provide a small measure of service during "Make a Difference Day."  We went with our church group to a local elementary school and helped clean the school.  It wasn't much, especially considering we had our children in tow and the youngest ones got distracted easily, but it was so worth it.  I really feel it's important for our family to experience things like this together so our children will know what it's like to serve others.

For a few years we helped out a lady from church.  It was a church assignment to help her, but we did it together.  She was house-ridden, for lack of a better term.  She had some mental and physical incapabilities which made it hard for her to get out of her house to do grocery shopping, or to drive consistently.  Her van had broken down on her property years ago and she hadn't been able to drive herself to the store, to the doctor's office, or to the laundromat.  Another problem she had was that her well was broken beyond a simple repair; so, she was living in her house without any way to get water, except from the jugs of water we would bring her.  We would do her grocery shopping for her about every two weeks or so, and bring her water whenever she needed it.  Our children helped us fill the water jugs and carry them to her door, as well, they would help carry the groceries to her door.

I don't share this to "toot my own horn," nor to get any accolade.  I share this because it is a good reminder to me of finding service opportunities for our family.  Especially with the holidays coming up, it seems that there are always a plentiful amount of service opportunities in reach.  But, more importantly, I want to be reminded of finding the service opportunities when it's not the holiday season ... because, perhaps, that's when it's needed most. 

Comments

Aubrey A said…
I am constantly looking for ways to serve with my children. It's hard, but it's worth it. I always take my children to do Toys for Tots, or Angel trees. We also try to get them to donate toys and other items to local shelters or the DI. The holidays always bring out the giving spirit in me, I just need to make sure I'm doing it year round. :)

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