Articles
Let The Servants Serve
Words can’t describe how thankful my family is for all the love you’ve shown to us in the last couple weeks. Any pregnancy, even under ideal circumstances, is hard and frought with dangers. Adding the stress and fear from a major complication can push a family to it’s breaking point. But God constantly works wonders through His people. Just as Paul was “refreshed” by His brothers and sisters who had his back and encouraged him (1 Corinthians 16:18, Philemon 1:7), we’ve been refreshed by our family at East Shelby. Please allow me to explain a few things the Goodwins have learned through this experience:
Little Things Make A Difference
It’s amazing how even a quick text message hits its mark! Rebecca and I have commented to each other several times how powerful a word of encouragement is. Whether you’re stuck at home, in the hospital, feeling alone in grief, or up to your neck in stress from work or school, little gestures of kindness, sympathy, or humor (looking at you, Clay) make a huge difference. In addition, we’ve been blown away by the thoughtfulness of several little gifts -- things we never would have thought to ask for, but were given to us just when they were needed! The “little things” might not be curing cancer, relieving a massive debt, or bringing a loved one back to life, but my quote from last week sums it up: “Chocolate chip cookies don’t make your problems go away, but they sure make you feel better about facing your problems.”
The Problem Doesn’t Have To Be Resolved To Change Your Outlook
By all accounts, our unborn baby is still in great danger. The underlying problem is looking significantly better than before, but it’s still there. However, we’ve learned the power of prayer and the phrase “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). By embracing prayer and handing our lives over to God, we’ve learned to embrace His will and take comfort in His immeasurable grace and love. Jesus Himself said, “Not My will, but Thine be done!” This doesn’t mean we always get what we want, but it does take the burden of every potential disaster and tragedy off our shoulders. We don’t need to live in fear for everything that could go wrong (Matthew 6:25, 6:34).
Be Humble Enough To Let The Servants Serve
One of the gifts expressed in Romans 12 is the ability to serve (verse 7). I’m used to being the servant. I’m young and healthy and don’t often require much help. So it took a lot of “get over yourself” this week to let servants in our congregation fulfill their purpose and serve. Part of being in a church family is not depriving others of the joy they derive from using their talents and skills. Some times I serve. Other times, it’s your turn. Thank you for serving my family in this season.
