Seriously, we fill every waking minute with something. I don't suppose for a minute that its the same for everyone... my husband world is filled with work obligations, baseball coaching, Y-guides, fitness, yard responsibilities, etc. My world starts with preparing three TOTALLY different breakfast meals, making sure library books are returned, homework is signed off, etc. Then it is onto managing the social calendar for 5, paying bills, potty training, packing snacks for baseball practice, swim lessons and so on. God bless the full-time working mother who wakes at some ungodly hour to shower and shave before her little ones are up!
But we do...we fill our days so busy that some of us are scheduling dinners with friends NINE WEEKS OUT. For goodness sakes. (Oh, that is us too. Whoo...that was convicting!)
This week I am reminded of our obligations as I "batten down the hatches" for the Sunny Hills Elementary Ice Cream Social. Not really a massive event, if you will... more of a social gathering that coincides with the Young Authors Night but nonetheless, one that requires my time because, well,
I "oh remember that great idea?" signed up in August to Chair the event.
At this point in the game, I hope you read my "Are you an Angry Bird?" blog entry (see archives to the right) because it was written shortly after I volunteered to be in my son's Kindergarten classroom. Why did I sign up to chair? Oh, some self-inflicted sense of needing to be involved in my children's school... after all, isn't that what all suburban stay-at-home-moms do? My neighborhood bus stop represents 1/3 of the PTA, I swear to goodness, they volunteer for everything! I must do it to fit in w/ the ladies! And at this point in the planning process of the Ice Cream Social, I want to commend these women for all they do. Much like children's pastors, and teachers; "Thank GOD ALMIGHTY for being gifted and called to serve youth." (So I don't have to.)
I haven't even shown up for the Ice Cream Social yet but the amount of organizing (and did I mention its a pizza feed too?) and orchestrating required for this event makes Barnum & Bailey's ringmaster job look tame. Seriously, the paperwork make it look like I am requesting to hold a rock concert inside the White House. And the Petty Cash form? I'm pretty sure they dusted for fingerprints. (But hey, since I'm normally all fired up about government waste, I should be proud that the Issaquah School District is VERY SERIOUS about cash! Thank you for stewarding my tax dollars!)
That was the windup, here's the pitch:
I realized this last week that it wasn't so much about "I ought to, I should" when it came to signing up to chair this thing as it was more about "I can." I can. I can pull off a pizza/ice cream event. And I"m happy to do it. Here's why.
Gathering and delegating (aka being bossy) come naturally to me. God resourced me with these giftings. Used for GOOD, they make the world a better place. And how many know we need a better place? I also have time. God gave everyone the same 24 hours...this is a resource that is evenly distributed to the rich, the poor....the smart and the...well, you get it. So while I can fill an entire day with "stuff," I can also back off of my Facebook "likes," stop surfing the web for kids bathroom decor and let the laundry go for a day while I work to make my local school that much better. Host an ice cream social...build community. And isn't that what it's all about?
Who doesn't want to be in a better community? Build a better world? Do our part to create "one accord?"
There is a cost. It's called a generous heart.
Like Hillsong's senior pastor, Bryan Houston explains, "You can't have all the ease without any of the burden." But God doesn't want us to serve with a pouty, grumpy attitude. How many of us know that will send our kids to their rooms when they finish their chores while their stomping their feet or grumbling under their breaths? No, God desires that we serve and give with "happy hearts" because we know that to make the world go around, we must live in the tension between "ease and burden." And so we give....
For some, it means whipping out their credit card or their billfold. I love it! That we should all do our share to make sure no one goes without. But remember that we have more than just "financial" resources...God has equipped us abundantly so that we can give away our:
- knowledge
- expertise
- listening ear
- belongings
- time
I am sure there is a bigger list and we haven't begun to scratch the surface! We have so much to give....everyone, I mean everyone has a capacity to give. It might start with two small mites, but if you give that, I guarantee your capacity to give will increase!
It has been so fun when you work in a spirit of a giving attitude; watching a team come together JUST for the sake of building community at our elementary school... amazing! It makes me stop and reflect just how much goes into some of the events or projects that we get to simply "walk in and enjoy." What about a conference? A theatre production? An auction or fundraising event? Your child's Sunday school program?
Be generous. Pay it forward.... give of yourself without the expectation of "getting." The crazy thing about God's way is that what is given out in a spirit of generosity always comes back to bless you even more. But we give because we can. Just because we can.
Dear friends, I hope I have inspired you in some way to get quiet and see what comes to you... I hope that you'll spend a few moments this week to be inspired to give in a new and fresh way. The world will not be the same for it!
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