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Listen while you read: "Under His Wings"1
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Last month, my husband Terry and I volunteered at a YWAM (Youth With a Mission) base near Tijuana, Mexico. One of our main responsibilities was called "hospitality". This included cleaning up the dining room after a meal, cleaning and supplying the bathrooms, dusting, sweeping, and emptying garbage cans in the offices. As I would go by the mail room, I would stare at the slot for volunteers in a set of pigeonholes, hoping to find mail addressed to us.
No doubt, the image of pigeonholes was imprinted on my brain, and surfaced in a dream that I had. In my dream, I was in a school building, where each class had its own set of pigeonholes at the door to the classroom. I was looking for a set with my name, so that I would know which classroom was mine. Then, in my dream, one of my fellow teachers said, "I saw yours; it was beside mine."
In my dream, it was as if I were searching for significance by finding my classroom. On the YWAM base, I wasn't serving in what I believed was my niche, a job suitable for me. Our work was repetitive, and although I fell into a comfortable rhythm doing it, it didn't particularly bring me joy. I could have easily imagined myself as a slave or a prisoner, since we had no opportunity to drive anywhere on our days off.
Terry, on the other hand, made the most of our days, and plunged into his new role with enthusiasm. He is a servant at heart, and I saw that he was happy in his role. He came alive and moved quickly and efficiently around the small campus. Terry would take the initiative and knew just how to tackle each area that we were assigned to clean. He even took on jobs beyond our defined responsibility, wherever he saw a need. I took my direction from him. The person in charge of us knew that she could count on us, and often consulted with Terry about areas that needed attention.
Matthew 20:26b-28 – Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (NLT)
I quickly realized that God had assigned me to this definite place. Although I have been retired for almost thirteen years, I'm still in a training program to serve God. I am being reminded again of the importance of the servant role. The teacher in my dream who saw my pigeonholes was like God, Who sees all, and says to us, "I'm right beside you."
When we feel as though we lack significance, let's be reminded that God is with us. We are not alone, and He continues to train us to serve others.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that we have been selected to be servants for You. Help us to embrace this important role. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Alice Burnett <terrencera.burnett@gmail.com>
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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Well said, Alice.
Very thoughtful devotion, Alice. A good reminder!
Hope all is well with you and yours.
So true that God is always with us. Thanks for reminding us, Alice, and blessings to you and Terry!
Very good lesson for us all. As you said, Jesus is our model of what a servant is. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you, Alice, for this encouragement to serve wherever we are lead and remember it’s Who we serve, not what we do.
I think, my friend, that you and Terry are marvelous examples of possessing servants’ hearts.
Thank you.
Thank you, Alice, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. My mother was a servant such as you described. I remember her with enormous fondness. Blessings.
Sounds like you and your husband had a very busy time there in Mexico and really dedicated your time to serving others. May you both be blessed abundantly for the caring work you both do wherever you travel. Thanks for writing and sharing about your experiences.
Good morning, Alice,
Such honesty about your feelings. I admire that. It helps others who struggle with certain parts of their faith to understand that God in His own way is helping us to mature and grow in our faith. Serving is so important and all kinds of servants are needed, and your devotional helps us to recognize that. Sometimes we need to “reframe the picture” and need help from our Holy Spirit to get there.
Thanks for sharing and enjoy the little tasks. Blessings.
Good Morning Alice I enjoyed your devotional and the honest transparency with which you wrote it. I do hope you will continue to write. It is very refreshing. I could not help but be reminded of a book called Hind’s Feet on High Places written by Hannah Hurnard, for as I read your devotional, it reminded me of one of Hannah’s touching quotes:
He (the Shepherd) has brought me here when I did not want to come, for His own purpose. I, too, will look up into His face and say, ‘Behold me! I am your little handmaiden, Acceptance-with-Joy.'”
Thanks again for writing Alice!
Thank you so very much Alice for reminding me of this precious lesson. I need to work at it, every day. God bless you and your work in Mexico. They are beautiful people,
(Quebec, Canada)