Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Serving 3

I had a full day for the kids and instead of picking up the kids at Lynne and Gary's I decided that I would try to get an earlier start to the afternoon's commitments and pick up the kids from school.

I was a bit early so I waited in the parking lot with Baby while she snarfed a sucker and I checked my email on my phone.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw an older white truck pull up in the stall next to me.

It was our good friend Andrew.

Andrew is everyone's friend.

And if he isn't you want to be.

He is the janitor at Brother's school and a good friend to all the kids there. Andrew gets quite a kick out of watching Brother play horses down the halls and at recess and always asks Brother what kind of horse he is that day.

Andrew is one of the most down to earth gentleman cowboys I have ever known.

He saw I was waiting in my car and came to say "hello."

We got chatting about various things and eventually the conversation turned to my kids.

I began telling him about how I feel so bad because I don't serve people anymore like I used to. That I miss taking meals to people, helping people with cleaning or organizing, or just remembering to write a little note telling them what a great example they are or what a great job they do on something, etc, etc. I proceeded to tell him that I am just so consumed by my own kids that I can't seem to muster up the time or energy to serve much anymore.

He looked at me and asked, "Did you know you serve one of my good friends everyday?"

I was trying to think of who I had done something good for that was friends with Andrew and thenk it quickly clicked...

Brother.

He was referring to my son.

His friend.

photo by Pointe Digital


It took some effort to keep the tears from starting because I had never thought of it that way.

I am serving.

Thank you Andrew for your words of inspiration and wisdom.

2 remarks:

Janice said...

You told me you try to say what your thinking when you think it. You told me my hair looked cute one day. I have always remembered that and it was numerous years ago. So, as a result, when I think something, I try to tell the person, and then I think of you!

Lara Neves said...

I loved reading this. I think all mothers feel like they aren't serving sometimes, and it is good to remember that we daily serve our children. And also, that it is the best service we can be doing right now.