Nursing Home Visit
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being full of accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4, emphasis added
Two days ago we looked at Paul’s call for unity among the church, today we see his desire for us to be humble in all things. It’s hard to look to the interests of others, sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time. Especially when “others” are not your husband, children, parents, or close friends. But we consider others more significant than ourselves in many ways. Here are just a few I can think of:
- Watching a friend’s children just because.
- Sending a note, a handwritten note, to an elderly church member to thank him or her for their faithfulness to the church and to Christ.
- Sharing with your pastor’s wife how much her husband’s ministry means to your family. {Trust me on this one!!}
- Letting the person behind you go first when you’re at WalMart … even if they have a full cart.
- Encouraging a new blogger by leaving a comment.
- Watching the nursery at church … even though your children are grown.
- Raking the neighbor’s leaves while you rake yours.
- Calling the nursing home to see if you can go visit a resident who never has visitors.
- Looking people in the eye when they speak to you … no matter how old or young they are.
- Praying for those you see whose eyes are tired or hurting … trusting that God knows their needs.
It’s not much … it’s not even about doing big things. Counting others more significant is simply a matter of looking around and serving. This isn’t about not taking care of your family … it’s more about engaging yourself and your family in the world around you as you take care of yourselves. Today, will you take whatever step the Lord asks of you in this area?
Lord, we try to make things hard. We really do. But this is simple … it’s just looking around and doing what we can to help others, to serve others, to love others … even if it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. We know that You desire for us to serve in Your name and for Your glory not our own. Open our eyes to the possibilities and keep our hearts ever close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
So important my friend! And really not that hard to do when you stop and think about it. I love your list! Hugs!
Thanks, sweet Lisa! Sometimes we just need to slow down long enough to notice the people around us … but that seems to be easier said than done.
I could be exciting to look for these opportunities! It’s so easy to become so absorbed in your own life and family, that I miss the small opportunities to show the servant heart of Christ.
We all do, Carol. Sometimes we just need a reminder to get out of that rut. 🙂
Such great, doable ideas, Teri Lynne. Thank you for sharing. It takes effort to intentionally spread love to all people around us, not just our families. Thank you for the reminder.
We have been discussing serving and seeing others as more important than ourselves in our house a lot lately. I think I’ll use this in our next devotion time. Thanks for the ideas and inspiration!
i was struggling with obeying this verse, thx for the encouraging ideas! after all we are a “people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” Titus 2:14b