Serving With A Purpose



Returning from the county hospital after being admitted for a day, the female inmate gave me her yellow wrist band marked “Prego” [pregnant], as I gathered my instruments to take her vital signs.


“I don’t need this anymore, right?” she asked.


“You’re right! And just to let you know, your prenatal vitamins would be discontinued also and your bedtime snacks.”


The day before, she had continued bleeding. It was her 6th pregnancy I gathered. She told me that she had previous complications, too from her past pregnancies. She had 3 alive children and the rest, she ended up having miscarriages, including this last one.


Speaking calmly, she didn’t appear to be in distress. She answered appropriately with all of my queries pertaining to her health.


“How are you? Tell me, what are you thinking now about this loss. I’m so sorry this happened.”


“No. I’m okay Ma’am. I’m okay with it since I always had problem sometimes from the past,” she replied, her gaze meeting mine. Her penetrating cold stare that seemed to evade any empathy from my part.


“Okay, I just want to let you know that if much later on, you feel like you need to vent out, help is available. So, just put a sick call request from your unit, “I advised.


“Thank you Ma’am. May I go back to my unit now?”


“Of course! I know you must be tired. Just keep drinking lots of water, too as long as you can tolerate that,” I added.


After handling out her yellow pass so she could go back to her housing, her shadow slowly disappeared from the hallway of the clinic’s female side. No other inmates would know what she had just gone through, just by merely looking at her.


She might not have accepted my offer of help. But that was okay, too. Because deep in my heart, I know that our strengths were given to us to help us serve. God is the One rejoicing when we change our “How can I help myself?” attitude to “How can I help others?”


And that strength is for service, not for status. No matter who is in front of us, true service is helping them out without any bias and without seeking for praises or even recognition.


The right attitude when serving others arise from loving God first. When our motive is to love God and please no other, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving others.


There’s a big difference when we look at our workplaces as just “a job” versus an area where “we can have that opportunity to faithfully serve God and man.”


“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.” -Colossians 3:23,24


“You are the light of the world---like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” - Matthew 5:14-16


“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me to your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” -Matthew 25:35,36


Then, these righteous ones will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?” -Matthew 25:37-39


And the King will tell them, “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.” -Matthew 25:40

11 comments:

  1. Good Morning,
    What a sad tale. You must see so much in your work at the corrections facility. May all your experiences give you more Godly wisdom and compassion. I pray that God refill you and strengthen you for each life you touch. Enjoy the rest of your week!
    LJ

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  2. The stories you must know about so many women going through trials and suffering. I think God has you in the right place for now. I am sure that many women there appreciate you for giving them support and offering to just listen when they need someone to talk to.

    I pray that many of these women will come to know God from your helping hands.

    Great Post!

    Steve,

    P.S. You received an A+ for your definitions! That was funny reading your answer! Great definition!

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  3. Rosel,

    I know that even though she may not have accepted to offer to talk about it now, you at least provided an open door to discuss it later. Perhaps in her own timing God will speak to her in silence and let her know she isn't alone and people do still care!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  4. That was beautiful. So often people just need someone to care - whether they admit it or not. You could have done your job without extending yourself; but you didn't.

    Ray Boltz song, "Thank You" came to mind. She may be one of those who you will see in heaven simply because you took a moment to extend care - in more than just the physical sense.

    The comment you left on my blog about your father coming to the Lord was powerful. Praise God!!

    I've often wondered at local nail salons when I see food and gifts laid out before their idols what happens to the food (usually fruit.) Does someone privileged get to eat it? Does it eventually go bad and they throw it out? Do the cleaning people take it and the owners thing that the Gods have accepted their offerings?

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  5. Amen Rosel! Serving with a purpose! The only purpose that we really have for anything that we do!

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  6. You definitely know what it means to serve with a purpose. You do it beautifully everyday. I love you.

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  7. Rosel,
    I am confident you made a difference. You may not be able to see it, but I know this young woman felt GOD's love. Her eyes may have been cold and her heart hard, but GOD penetrates through those barriers. Satan may have a hold, but GOD is greater and HE is clearly using you beyond explanation. You planted seeds today and who knows who will be blessed to water them.
    Love you, andrea

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  8. Rosel,

    You live to serve and to share the Lord in whatever fashion HE shows you in each situation. In this, you planted seeds, you gave love. Something I am sure not alot of these women have experienced and I am sure they don't allow themselves to trust many, but given time and seeing real fruit breaks down many walls! one piece at a time. Continue on in doing good....you know you will reap a harvest :)

    love you!

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  9. You definitely are making a difference...
    Way to go!
    I love stopping by...

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  10. Thank you for your help today.
    God Bless,
    Your heavenly sister

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  11. Beautiful post and so sad.

    Love,
    Kelly

    ReplyDelete

"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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