This week I volunteered as the lunch lady for vacation bible school at our church. Not glamorous. Not exciting. I just stuffed brown paper bags with hot dogs, chips, fruit, etc...To be honest, I wasn't too excited about it. I really didn't know the other ladies that were volunteering along with me. When I told Maya what I was doing, she kind of gave me a weird look, then said she would let me borrow her shower cap for a hair net. And she added an emphatic, "Don't embarrass me"!
The first day was chaotic, but as the week progressed we all fell into routine. We visited, we got to know each other. One lady has a daughter that has baffled the medical field with terribly diseased lungs, but the girl looks and acts normal. Another lady lost her son three years ago. We talked about life and how precious every moment is. We forged relationships and prayed together as we packed lunches. We became friends and I enjoyed the time spent with each of them. They were truly a blessing to me.
Today while we were stuffing bags, one lady suggested that we pray for the ministry and anything that was on our hearts. I was the last one to pray and out of my mouth popped these words, "Lord, even though putting ketchup packets in these bags seems so insignificant, we do it for You and we ask that you bless this food and our time here. We also ask that these kids can leave as changed people and more in love with You".
I don't remember thinking about that before praying, but somewhere down deep, that was my heart's cry. And I started thinking about what I just said.
Ketchup.
Ketchup?
What is it's purpose? It doesn't take the lead, but rather the supporting role. It's used to enhance the flavor of a burger or hot dog. To make the dry food taste better.
So many times, I've wondered if what I'm doing as a wife and home-school mom matters. So many times I've felt like my work is so insignificant and mundane. But now? But now I know that God used a simple packet of ketchup to show me that even though it seems like my work is small, I add flavor, I enhance my family's life, I make it better.
Every toilet that I scrub. Makes my house better...
Every meal I cook. Makes hungry tummies better...
Every errand I run. Makes things better...
Every load of laundry. Makes our clothes better...
Every band-aid I apply. Makes the "owie" better...
Every lesson I teach. Makes Maya better...
Every time I submit to my husband. Makes my marriage better...
Every time I pray. Makes my life better...
I learned today that no matter how small and mundane the task is that is set before me, if I do it for the glory of God, it's no longer ordinary, but extra-ordinary and the natural turns into supernatural. God makes everything "extra" and "super". I was so blessed by this quote in a blog I read today:
"You do not go home to hide from the world, you go home to change it."
To read the whole blog post (and I highly recommend that you do) go HERE
So, it doesn't matter if you're a man, woman, child, mother, father, grandparent, the next time you think you don't matter, think of the ketchup! When we're getting through our daily chores or to-do lists, submit our work to the Lord and he'll turn it into something extra-ordinary.
Do you think preparing a brown paper sack lunch can show the love of Jesus? To the kid that came to VBS hungry, YES!
Do you think the ladies knew how they were affecting me while we prepared food this week? They made me want to come home and squeeze my girl a little tighter for a little longer.
Do you think doing the simple, mundane things and just being present for our kids can shape and form the next generation for the glory of God and His kingdom?
Do you think the mom that gave the little boy 5 small barley loaves and 2 fishes in John 6 knew what a blessing and miracle would be coming later that day?
We really never know how our day to day activities can affect the others around us. But God does!
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Colossians 3:23
No comments:
Post a Comment