A Servant’s Heart
Carol learned from a friend what it is to have a servant’s heart in this story about an icy parking lot, a fractured knee and a gentle pedicure.
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Busy Lives
Our lives are busy. We are bombarded with all the ads for the latest and greatest gadget, toy or must have for Christmas decorating and giving. If you are like me, the puzzle piece of giving at Christmas or any other time of year is one I love. The other puzzle piece that needs to attach to it called finances seems to be the wrong size to fit properly.
Sometimes creativity is needed to meet my love of giving gifts. At other times I am reminded that not everything needs to be about accumulating stuff to give, to receive or to decorate. My heart attitude needs to be one that embraces being a servant, helping others and remembering there are many people who will struggle during this season for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are one of them and need someone to have a kind word, a servant’s heart or offer a helping hand.
I wrote about a friend of mine who displayed this servant heart, not at Christmas but it is something we should do at all times of the year. May it inspire each one of us to open our ears and hear the need, our eyes to see a need unexpressed and our hearts to carry out kindnesses to others.
A Fractured Knee
I landed quickly on the ice of a parking lot with my right knee bearing the brunt of the fall. Pain seared through the knee and up and down the leg. The right knee ballooned almost immediately and colors of black, blue and purple began to appear. X-rays revealed a fracture at the knee joint. Now what?
I was blessed to not have to have surgery however; the healing process would be time consuming and limiting. No weight bearing on crutches for six weeks. Six long weeks as crutches and I did not get along well. Six long weeks of needing to accept help for I could not drive, cook, clean, do laundry or even take a glass of water from one room to another in the house. It was limiting. I was in need of help for on a daily basis.
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My Close Friend
Then a close friend asked if she could come over and paint my toenails. She said that with a broken knee, looking after my feet would have been very difficult if not impossible for me to manage all these weeks. Her plan involved much more than a coat of nail polish on my toenails. She arrived bearing a foot spa, in which she warmed water for me to soak my feet. Then, after the soak was completed, she carefully and gently dried each foot. Then she filed the nails before she applied the polish. My friend did not just apply one quick coat but the base coat, two coats of polish and a topcoat. During this lengthy process she sat at my feet, serving me, visiting me, encouraging me.
My Friend’s Servant Heart
My friend and sister in Christ, blessed me with her servant heart, as she showed her love and compassion in such a practical way. Her love and kindness reminded me of John 13: 1-17 where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. No provisions had been made by the disciples to have a servant present to wash everyone’s feet, so Jesus, took on the role of the servant or slave. Jesus, their Lord and teacher, taught the disciples that night, by love and example, that no task is too menial for us to do for one another. No one in the kingdom of God is greater than another. None of us, as followers of Christ, should feel that a task is beneath them or too small and unimportant in building up one another in love in the family of God. .
We read in John 13: 17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed to do them.” I was blessed by my friend’s tender care in massaging, soaking and adorning my feet.
May I be ready to bless someone else as God shows me the need.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life.
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope. She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
Visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
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Images Credits
Painted Toenails – tookapic
Injured knee – whitesession
Pedicure – nosheep
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