Serve.

5 Comments


Today I learned in one of his speeches Martin Luther KingJr. quoted scripture from Matthew 10 and then said:
Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve…You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

I’m learning to serve. I want to stop walking by needs. I want to stop feeling a little sad because of someone’s situation and then to keep on going with my day, my plan. I want my daily plans to be anchored to serving and not to getting-it-done.

 But we live in a world of getting-it-done.Frankly, I’m quite efficient with my day.

I don’t want efficiency.
I want meaning.

So I’m learning to see where I can serve. I’m learning to listen more. I’m learning when I do less I reach more significant needs. I’m able to touch lives in meaningful ways. It seems counterproductive.

It’s not though, rather it’s the way of Love. When I can push past my task list and be motivated by love, I have a new strength in my heart that is powerful.

This is what propels me to serve.

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faith, quote, reflection, scripture, teaching

5 Comments »

  2. As I read your words, I was reminded of Romans 12:9-10 that I read this morning and shared with my husband from The Message translation: “Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply.” Loving deeply, running away from pride, holding on for dear life to all the good in my life sets me up to serve. I really think there is a relationship between loving deeply and serving. Just wanted to share.

  3. Hmm. Been thinking similar things lately.
    Sometimes I can feel a selfish resistance inside, yet when I don't allow that, there is a good change that happens.

  4. Little do you know (or maybe you do), you serve in so many ways, even to those you just touch with your words. My OLW for this year is strength (http://literacyzone.blogspot.com/2014/01/sols-my-one-little-word.html), so the scripture you shared is now treasured in my notebook: “But those who trust in the Lord will find new STRENGTH. They will soar high on wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Once again, thank you for serving me your words and this passage.

  5. Tagging on to Michelle's post, I wanted you to know how your dedication to building writers has served untold numbers of students. For more than 2 years I have been following your posts, reading your books, and sharing with teachers throughout my (large!!) district. They in turn have been sharing with their students, friends, and colleagues. I just finished Celebrating Writers and my head and heart are bursting with even more to share. So, I'm sending you a HUGE thank you for all the many ways you have been serving the teachers and students that I serve. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 🙂