How may I serve you

The holidays always tend to be extra busy and it seems like more demands are made all the time.  In the travel industry it is the busy season and that’s expected.  But, no matter how planned out or prepared I might feel, it always seems to stress me out and I feel burned out and relieved when they are over.

 

As I answer phones or help customers in my office, I always say, “How can I help you?”  It’s said with sincerity and I do want to do the best I can for them.  In addition to customers there are family responsibilities, holiday events and expectations to add to the mix.  Sometimes by the end of the week or even the day I am longing for silence; feeling that if another request or demand is made I will snap.  Being a perfectionist doesn’t help my mindset.  In fact, it over complicates many situations and I add to my own stress.

 

This week I was scheduled for extra time off from work for Thanksgiving.  I was looking forward to relaxing and was very careful not to over schedule myself with personal projects.  Work was crazy busy with training new employees, pre holiday travel questions from clients and resulted in late nights at the office.   It was all good because I knew it would be a short work week and that I had extra time off to look forward too.

 

The short work week added to the stress because I would have less time to get everything finished.  But each morning when I would have my quiet time I would pray for wisdom to get it all done and done well.  Each day on my drive home I was in awe of all that was accomplished and the positive atmosphere in the office.   Thank you God!  What a blessing!

 

Finally the days off came.  Bright and early in the morning I received a text message from a client who was traveling.  Nothing urgent, just a question.  At that moment I did not have a, “How can I help you,” attitude.  Rather it was, “I’m on vacation, do not disturb.”  The response did require me to check out a few details of their trip, but I was able to finish the task quickly.  My heart’s attitude, however didn’t improve.  Later that day I was called again for another issue.  This time a response would require me to go to the office the next day.  Ugh….I’ll do it because I need to help them, but I wasn’t remembering my lesson on, “Do it as if for God.”

 

As God would have it, He orchestrated everything to work out so that I was able to help them when I returned home that night, from Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  He showed me the best way to handle the situation and it wouldn’t even require me to go into the office.  I was ashamed of my heart’s attitude, especially when the client apologized for bothering me on my time off.

 

The next morning in my devotional time I was thinking about how I accepted the call to have God Adventures and how God always provides what I need; so why do I get upset.  God Adventures are not planned by me.  God takes care of that and they are not going to happen on my schedule or when they are most convenient for me.  He knows when I need times of rest and He knows when I will learn most by experiencing an unplanned God Adventure.

 

There is a church in our area that always answers their phone with , “How may I serve you?”  There is a difference between, “How can I help you?” and “How may I serve you?”  Think of it this way; If someone asks you for directions you can help them by pointing the way.  If you serve them, you walk with them.  Serving is committed and comes from a right heart.

 

The whole purpose of the “You Matter” challenge is to help people know that I really care.  That means being available for unexpected requests, calls, texts or any other way God wants to get my attention.  God Adventures are amazing, but they require commitment.  Even willingness to use time off for God in any way He chooses.

 

I’m grateful that the clients who contacted me this week were gracious to me.  I’m sorry that I wasn’t as gracious and service minded that I should have been.  In the end, God worked it all out for good and I’m thankful that He will give me other opportunities to be fully committed to serve from a right heart.

 

My prayer

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I will look to the Lord; 

 I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me

 

Father,  Thank you for forgiveness.  I didn’t trust in your provision and I am sorry that my heart was not one of a committed servant this week.  My actions may have shown differently, but I long to be a woman with godly integrity.  You are always faithful and you can provide more in a few moments that I could every do on my own.  I truly want God Adventures with you and I thank you that you are teaching me what will be required along the way.  Mold me and shape me into a woman of God that looks at interruptions as divine appointments.  Help me to see you in the moments Lord.  Amen

 

Where does my help come from?

1 Peter 4:10

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”