Why I Serve
by Christina Bledsoe
In 2021, I left full time employment after 26 years in real estate/property management. I worked 60+ hours a week and traveled multiple times each month. I was burnt out, worn out and in desperate need of physical, mental, and spiritual rest. For as long as I could remember, I said “no” to requests at church. No, I am not able to join a Bible study. No, I am not able to help in the nursery. No, I am not able to participate in a mission project. I was too busy working, trying to maintain a marriage and make it to my sons’ sporting events. And do not even get me started on the mounds of laundry and household chores I could use as excuses not to serve.
In my heart, I knew the benefits of serving others. I had experienced the benefits firsthand of being raised by a mother who instilled in her children the value of serving others. We spent Christmas morning at a homeless shelter, took a mission trip to Lima, Peru and tallied up countless hours serving at church.
So, what happened? Life happened. I got lazy and my priority became myself.
Once I was no longer working full time, I knew I wanted to serve, and I asked God to show me where He wanted me, with one exception: I did not want to work with kids. Don’t get me wrong, I like kids, I just didn’t feel called to work with them. They are loud (I like quiet), and they are dirty and germy (I like clean and dislike snot). I felt confident I could be of service to our church’s food ministry, coffee shop or even the crochet club … just not kids.
Ever heard that phrase “Make plans, God laughs”?
One day, I received a phone call asking if I would be a substitute for MOPS. Since I did not have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mother, MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) was an organization unfamiliar to me. So, like the good and faithful servant I am, I said “I’m not available, but maybe next time.” I was not lying about being busy now, but I also was not eager about being called for the next time.
She called again. This time, I did not have an excuse. So, I volunteered with the loud, dirty, germy one-year olds and, guess what? I loved it. These children were smart and fun. We read books, made crafts, danced, read stories about Jesus, and ate Veggie Straws. The two hours flew by and when it was time to leave, they hugged my legs then ran to their mothers. I was hooked.
Fast forward two years and MOPS Fridays are my favorite. I’ve been with my group of kiddos since they were 1-year olds and most are now 3 or soon to be 3. I have become a part of their lives, watching them grow and even attending their birthday parties. When I see them at church, they run to me and hug my neck and it is the most satisfying moment of my day.
In case you need more of a reason to serve, I read that serving reduces mortality by 22-44%, people who volunteer have 29% lower risk of high blood pressure, 17% lower risk of inflammation levels, and spend 38% fewer nights in the hospital (www.operationinasmuch.org). God created us to serve (Matthew 20:28) and I find it interesting that this outward discipline has inward health benefits for the body God gave me.
Why do I serve? It is not to lower my blood pressure or to live longer or to try to make up for lost time when I could not serve. I serve to please and honor God and He graciously gives me loud, dirty, snotty reasons to keep coming back.
