I see her, arms outstretched, reaching out to hold the heartbroken, hugging them as they cry.
I see her bending over a child, wrapping a band aid around an almost imperceptible scrape, wiping tear-stained cheeks.
I see him sitting beside a hospital bed, holding the hand of someone crossing over into the arms of God.
I see her making tea and pausing her tasks to sit and listen to the one who came by to unburden her heart.
I see him, lost in study, deep in preparation for the sermon he will preach the next morning.
I see her surrounded by a smattering of crafts and cut outs, aglow with creativity for little hands.
I see her reading a Bible story to a class of little children who hang on to her every passionate word.
I see him building and fixing, his strong hands deft and knowledgeable to serve others.
I see her arms full of a laundry basket of food (and love) coming up the front steps of a new mother.
I see him answering the phone even when his heart is weary, and his body is tired because he loves the one who is calling him.
I see him teaching a crowd of people, gathered under a shade tree, hungering for the meat of God’s word.
I see her writing a card, tears slipping down her face, knowing that the one who receives it needs to know she is loved.
I see her quietly loading dishes and sweeping crumbs from the floor, knowing that service done for the sake of Jesus is no small task.
I see him organizing a group of people, delegating and directing, giving his mind and heart to events much bigger than all of us.
I see them hosting a crowd of boisterous and messy teens – opening their home with food and joy to encourage the next generation.
And these only brush the surface of what I see when I look for it…
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them ~ Romans 12:4-6
Perhaps instead of trying to be like “that guy” over there (or berating someone for doing a different task than we are), we can instead begin to see the beauty, the completion and the purpose behind each of us in Christ’s body – different, uniquely gifted, crafted with intention by the hands of God. I’m thankful we are not clones, for the body of Christ can be reflected best when we each use what God has given us to serve Him.
May we all better learn to reflect His glory with our talents each day.
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
Wattsup With Kids 