Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
There is so much need in this world, but hope is kindled by the many people who are working hard every day to fill the gaps. They are in every corner of this nation, from every walk of life, with diverse backgrounds but one common goal: to answer Jesus’ call to love their neighbors. Some are volunteers for organizations established to serve a community and some run those very organizations. Although completely dedicated, with a zest to give their best, the truth is they are human. They get tired, feel frustration and experience moments of discouragement. They experience these challenges for a myriad of ongoing reasons. A lack of helping hands; knowing the limit of their ability to ease the struggles of the people they serve; the need to discard food at the end of a week because it’s perishable or to meet regulations; the realization that some are taking advantage of the offerings. The list goes on.
I have been privileged to meet several of these wonderful people with a servant’s heart. What struck me most? Their gratitude and joy to have total strangers step into their daily world in order to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, even if only for a day or two. In no time at all relationships began to develop with these fellow workers for Christ. Friendships bloomed as I instantly began to care about those with whom I was serving. Witnessing students from local Christian schools in Alabama, eager to do their part to provide and help stage Thanksgiving dinners. Making the acquaintance of a truly gentle man in Texas who took a shine to me, teaching me all about their operation, taking me under his wing so to speak. These connections awakened in me a new level of understanding of what it means to serve.
When you step into caring for the needs of others, it is quite possible that your serving will go beyond whom you initially intended to serve. You will find that you are lifting some of the burden from other servants. I assure you it is an encouragement and blessing to them. They are reminded that they are not alone.
Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, points out: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) Consider how your willingness to get involved could strengthen and help lift up another. Let’s stand in the gaps together, to fulfill the law of Christ, which is love.