Simple Acts of Kindness Will Do
I've come to realize that serving people doesn't have to be flashy or complicated.
Every Monday, I take out the trash for somebody else. I do this for an elderly woman who is completely bed-ridden. She lives by herself with her cat as a companion. Few people visit her. She has outlived her sons. Her grandson visits occasionally. PSWs come to take care of her a few times a day. But most of the time, she's by herself watching television. It can be a lonesome experience.
A group of us visit her on a weekly basis. Some of us bring groceries for her. Others hold a simple Bible study with her. I take out the trash and bring over a meal that she likes on Mondays. It's a very simple way to serve someone in the name of Jesus.
I've come to realize that serving people doesn't have to be flashy or complicated. I can serve people through simple acts of kindness and compassion like taking the trash out for this lady who can't do it for herself. It doesn't take much from me—just a little bit of time and energy. In return, I get to grow in my faith by following and obeying Christ through this simple act of service. I get to "love my neighbor as myself" (see Mark 12:31).
The apostle Paul gave this exhortation to Titus and the church about doing good works for others: "And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14 ESV). I want to bear good fruit with my life. One of the ways I can be fruitful is to engage in doing good works for others, especially for those who have urgent needs. Helping this elderly woman is exactly what Paul had in mind when he wrote those words to Titus. I also get the chance to converse with her about life and pray for her. It's a simple way to show her the love of Christ through my words of encouragement and through my hands of service. God's love is tangibly shown to her through my actions. And her own faith and love for God is strengthened week by week through volunteers who regularly come by to serve her in similar ways.
Our acts of service don't have to be complicated. Simple acts of kindness will do. Let me end with this quote that I like from Teresa of Calcutta, someone who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor: "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love."
In what simple way can you serve somebody today in the name of Christ?
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
