“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as stewards of God’s varied grace.”- 1 Peter 4:10
If you are like me, you can be a little loud, get excited easily, and definitely live by "thriving in awkwardness". My love for Jesus has a tendency to come off as "really out there", but I know that it's just my way of encountering Jesus in everyone with extreme joy. I was not always like this, though, so let me tell you how I got there and what I found through the process.
Coming into college I had a reversion back to the faith. I did not want to do the “Catholic club” because my older sister did that and I was too rebellious, but forced by my mom and encouraged by others, I went. When I got there, I thought they were weird... but I went again, and three years later I am still going. However, I would not be still going if it was not for a senior that took me, a little freshman, under her wings. She was the first person to greet me with a joy that seemed to radiate and an energy that seemed to explode from her. She encouraged me to go to daily Mass, even though I never had outside of retreats, and to say the rosary, even when I realized I didn’t know how to say it.
She was the first person to greet me with a joy that seemed to radiate and an energy that seemed to explode from her.
That year, I slowly started to find God and from a relationship with Him that was deeper than a feeling and a quick daily prayer. By His grace He gave me a woman that introduced me to the feminine genius and an example of what being a Catholic woman looked like in real life. She prayed with me and was a counselor to me in times of decisions. I was made stronger and after that year, I wanted to give to someone what she had given to me; a person who was there and who loved Jesus.
I wanted to give to someone what she had given to me; a person who was there and who loved Jesus.
So I became a mentor and I was blessed to be the social chair of that same “Catholic Club”. The whole year I was serving and trying to show God to people, but it really draining. By the end of the year I was so worn out with trying to be happy all the time and the weight of trying to serve everyone at all times. I found that my way of ministering at that time was never what was intended. I will show your a three step hierarchy that I have found needs to be kept to be a better servant to others.
Some people may say that to minister is to put others first, but I disagree. To minister, you need to put God first, then yourself , then others. You cannot tell people about someone that you do not know. To be honest, you are not the one ministering, God is. But if you cannot take time to form a deep relationship with Him, you cannot show people His love. He is love. If we do not know Him, we do not know love; and love is the base of all ministry. Your relationship with Him is the foundation of your entire life. He will give you the strength and the knowledge and the wisdom and the compassion… He will give you everything you need, you just have to let Him. After knowing Him, you have to know and take care of yourself.
He is Love. If we do not know Him, we do not know love; and love is the base of all ministry.
You cannot be a good friend, a good missionary, or a good anything if you are not healthy spiritually, mentally, and physically. This is the hardest part for me, because taking care of myself means dying to myself. Sometimes it is putting my own desires on the back burner. Instead of going out, I stay in and do work because I know I have to do homework in order to be fully present with the women in my bible study. Sometimes that means saying no to staying out late because I know that you will not be able to be a good friend if I am tired. Or making eating a priority because I get hangry, or working out everyday. You know yourself. Sometimes you have to sometimes act “selfish” by taking time for yourself. It allows you to be a better servant.
“..taking care of myself means dying to myself”
Lastly, serve others. Find what it is that you are passionate about and what your gifts are that God gave you and use those to serve, For me, speaking and being available to people is how I best show God’s love. So that is what I do. When people ask to talk, I always say yes, or plan a time when I can. In this busy world, being available to people is a gift that so many refuse to give. It can be something as small as asking how their day was and actually listening, or noticing new glasses, or a text message asking how you can pray for them. It could just be a smile, or a hug or a joy you show when you see them. Every person you encounter is filled with God, so we should act like it. I teach religious education on Sundays because I love it and it fills me. I do a women’s group because bringing women together to praise God fills me. Ministry is not supposed to drain us completely, because if you are doing it right, you are also filling yourself with God.
Ministry is not supposed to drain us completely, because if you are doing it right, you are also filling yourself with God.
God works through your brokenness, and it makes you more relatable to others. You do not have to wait until you are perfect or have your life together, because then you will never serve. The woman I mentioned early asked me, "Would you rather have them see you be perfect and something they can not achieve, or would you rather them see you living fully in brokenness?" Not to mention, always trying to be perfect is so draining. I have been there and it is not worth it. Perfection leads to a fake happiness, and giving God brokenness leads to a never ending joy.
...would you rather have them see you be perfect and something they can not achieve, or would you rather them see you living fully in brokenness?
What serving looks like is different for everyone because we are all placed in different situations with different people and have different talents. For you maybe it is singing or reading at Mass, leading a Bible study, organizing trips, or doing administrative work for your campus ministry. There is always something you can do.
Challenge: This week go out and serve. Keep trying new ways to serve until you find something that gives you a fire and fills you.
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” Saint Mother Teresa
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