Fashioned By Godનમૂનો

You Were Fashioned For Service To Others

The year I fought breast cancer, the kindness of my friends overwhelmed me. Meals showed up at our house three days a week for seventeen weeks of chemotherapy. Our lawn received better care from men in our church than we ever gave it ourselves. Just before my surgery, I was given a box full of little encouragement gifts—one to open each day of the month afterward. I could go on and on.

Being on the receiving end of service from others opened my eyes to needs that may have previously gone overlooked. I’m not a person who easily identifies the physical needs of others. I’m more likely to sense emotional or spiritual needs. But just because it doesn’t come naturally doesn’t mean I’m not supposed to be on the lookout. The verses for today make this truth very clear, and sometimes our experiences, like my cancer, help to clarify it.

Bible study and prayer are most often the tools God uses to get our attention when he has a task for us. Many times, reading the Bible and then journaling what God says to me are the motivating factors behind my random acts of kindness. A funny thing happens when we focus on the needs of others: We forget our own problems for a little while. Doing good is a great prescription for the doldrums. Today, ask God to speak to you through the focal verses. Ask him to bring to mind at least one person for whom you can do something kind.

We talked yesterday about sharing clothes with widows and orphans. Today, let’s focus on what we know about fashion or style that we could share. Is one of your friends struggling with her wardrobe? Could you come alongside her and spend a Saturday cleaning out her closet together? Could you volunteer to go shopping with a teen you know whose mom just can’t take one more outing with her? (Moms and daughters can sometimes become upset with each other over the smallest things.) Maybe you could host a “closet consult” and invite a couple of friends. They could listen to the tips shared by the expert and apply them later at home in their own closets. Be creative but also considerate as you offer ideas. We never want to make anyone feel like a fashion failure.