As I greeted each section of the homeless and underprivileged men, women, and children of the Washington, D.C., area, I was reminded of the great blessing my Lord has bestowed on me.
Recently, I was able to volunteer at Christ House, an organization that hosts dinners and provides shelter for people that need help getting back on their feet after a crisis. It is a blessing to be a part of groups like these.
One Friday afternoon I went to Christ House with a group from school. We had prepared food, served it, and then just spent time with the people there. As I listened to their stories, a great sense of sadness came over me, and I felt sympathy for the difficulties they had been through. Then I remem-bered why I was there: to help as much I could, to listen, and to remind them that they can trust God. I could feel that God’s presence was with us and that he saw and heard us.
When I look back at this experience I think of the memorable people I encountered and helped. I am also reminded of the great privileges I have in my life. I thank my Lord every single day for the many blessings in my life.
—Rosie
When you serve others who are less fortunate than yourself, you might feel sadness and sympathy—be humbled by your blessings, or guilty that you’ve taken them for granted. How can you refocus your spirit so that your service concentrates on the person you are serving and not yourself?
Jesus was a great listener. People often came to him with their stories and needs. Pray about doing some volunteer or service work that will bring you into contact with people who have stories to share. Ask Jesus to help you listen as he did, and then extend his mercy to the person you are listening to.