Service is Love in Working Clothes
I saw an example of that this week. A friend suffered the tragedy of the death of her adult son. The heartache is immeasurable. This mother walked through the agony of her week in a fog of grief. There were hundreds of details to tend to: a service to plan, photos to gather, family and friends to notify, etc.
A good friend of hers called and said, "I'm bringing over the woman who cleans my house. She and I are coming to do yours." And, they did, making it ready for out-of-town family.
Service is Love in Working Clothes
A similar thing occurred many years ago. A dear friend of mine, an accomplished musician and worship leader in several churches, went to the home of a church member who was dying of cancer. She cleaned the bathrooms, allowing the man's wife to take a little break and to return to sparkling bathrooms.
Before she left, she asked him if he wanted her to sing. He had spent his life serving God and she knew he loved the old hymns of the church. Of course, he was delighted....and so she sang.
I wasn't there, but this is the image I have: there she stands at the foot of his bed, dressed in comfy old cleaning clothes, perhaps still wearing her rubber gloves and holding the scrub bucket. She sings several of his favorites. Her beautiful soprano voice echoes throughout the sickroom and home, bringing a bit of God's grace to a sad situation.
Service is Love in Working Clothes
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?...Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."(James 2: 14-17)
Let's look around and see where we can express our love and the love of God through our service to those who are hurting.
Let's get to work!
