Small Steps Towards Serving in 2013-Part 3

If you’re feeling lost, read the last two posts here and here.Today, I want to give you a couple of personal examples of how I can serve God and serve others based on what my heart breaks for.Big ticket items from my life experiences:  eating disorder, being a mom, infidelity in marriage, and growing up in my brother’s shadow.Here are three different scenarios based on my life experiences:***Take growing up in my brother’s shadow leads to a heightened awareness for those being left out.  Being consciously aware of this allows me to be aware of this in social situations and make good of my experience.An example:  Last year, Tru was playing t-ball and there was one girl on the team.  She showed up late, didn’t come to the first game, and thus didn’t have a shirt like everyone else.  I couldn’t stand it!  My heart broke for her!  So I went over to the coach’s bag and helped myself to a shirt for her and gave it to her mom so she could feel included.***Take eating disorder and infidelity in marriage.  Eating disorder leads to heightened awareness of body image and the need for positive role models.  Take infidelity in marriage, which leads to a heightened awareness of the objectification of women in America.Example:  Lately, I’ve realized that I don’t need to support stores like Victoria’s Secret with my hard earned dollars.  I don’t believe that they portray healthy role models for girls/women nor do they do a good job of NOT objectifying women.  Case closed.  (Now, as I told the ladies on Tuesday, in full disclosure, I would like to confess that the bra I am wearing right now was purchased at Victoria’s Secret.  I’m cheap, people.  I’m not going to stop wearing it until it doesn’t fit or starts to smell.  But I’m committed to not spending any more money there.)***Take infidelity in marriage combined with being a mom.  Being a mom is so rewarding but especially difficult work for me.  And the reality is, I could be a single mom at any point.  Two possible scenarios, and this is tragic to even write out: death or Jason choosing to return to his addiction.  Combine that with spending time at a conference a couple of years ago with two single moms and it was the perfect concoction, ah lah God, for my heart to break for single moms.Example:  there are some great local organizations that support single mothers.  My boys and I recently took a tour of Hope House.  We’re talking not only single mothers but single mothers that are teenagers!  Truman donated some of his brand new Christmas toys to the children.  Hopefully I can do something to serve there sometime soon, too.  Nothing like my five year old leading the way!Here is the deal:  we don’t have to start a not-for-profit in order to serve others.  There are things we can do in our day-to-day to serve others and thus serve God.  But until we are more aware, it isn’t going to happen.If you try this exercise, would you let me know what you come up with?  Is there anything that surprises you as you work through the two simple steps?  I’d love to hear from you!