Serving May NOT be our Spiritual Gift

Serving May NOT be our Spiritual Gift

My kids attended Vacation Bible School at our church two weeks ago.

The theme was Power Lab with scientific experiments. The stage was decorated with beakers. They made slime in the craft room and had bottled Coke erupting like a volcano in Recreation.

And there were water games. Soaking. Wet. Water. Games.

Of course, this was the highlight of the week. Because kids and water? They go together.

My kids came home wet and happy the first day. They made gooey glittery test tubes and slid down the enormous water slide.

The next day, my son entered the car wet and tired. My daughter? Dry as a bone. With an explanation.

"Mom, they choose one group each day to skip the water area and go into the serving room. The group spends the whole time making the snacks for the rest of the kids," she said.

I thought this was a fabulous idea and told her so.

"You know what was weird, Mom? They acted like having us serve was as big a treat as playing in the water!" she said incredulously.

I hid my smile. "Well, honey, they are trying to teach you that serving is the greatest gift."

"Well. I think the slide would have been better."

My son patted her on the arm, leaving wet marks. Emphasis on him being wet.

On the third day, my son entered the car, dry, wearing his sister's expression from the day before. My daughter did the patting that day.

I shared this scripture with them in Ephesians 6: 7-8, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does . . ."

I explained to my kids that when we serve others, we serve the Lord.

That's a hard lesson for an 8 and 6 year old. But an important one.

Who am I kidding? That's a hard lesson for me.

Our human nature is selfish. We want to take care of ourselves first and we usually think of ourselves before others. I couldn't help but think about my good intentions to help with VBS. My toddler was sick at the beginning of the week and I couldn't volunteer.

I decided to take the rest of the week and try to catch up on work at home.

But how could I expect my kids to learn about serving when I had decided to take the easy way out?

So, I showed up to help the last two days of VBS. Guess where they put me? Yep, the serving room.

The schedule planned for one group to serve twice. When I saw my daughter's group walk thru the door, I couldn't help but smile.

As we made Crosses out of Ritz crackers and squirt cheese, side-by-side, I knew that my daughter wasn't the only one that God wanted to teach about serving.

I needed the lesson too.

Prayer:

"Jesus, you were the greatest Servant of all. Thank you for teaching me by Your example. Help me to see opportunities to serve, to do it with a thankful heart and to do it unto You. Amen."

join Kristen daily at We are THAT family where serves up a dose of humor daily!