Good morning, Five Minute Families. It is wonderful to be with you today. Hopefully, you are still discussing and learning about the Fruit of the Spirit together, or working on some other devotional or study together as a family. If you aren’t, try starting with discussing the Sunday sermon on the way home from church next Sunday.

We’ve talked about serving together before. But, today we want to specifically highlight a family we have had the joy and blessing to serve alongside a few times now. This weekend the plans here at CVR were changed last minute due to a cancellation for a Family Camp. Our fellow volunteer family that does not live nearby came anyway, spending time and over 250 miles of gas money to come and serve families by fixing or improving the facility for our next event.

The family has multiple children, including a young son with special needs who must be monitored at all times. Two things occurred on Saturday that made us stop and be not just thankful but truly grateful for this family’s heart of serving…

First, when presented with a more in-depth project than we originally thought we would have – and I apologized for the added burden, the dad replied, “If not me, who? And if not now, when?” And, second, the mom stated she wished she had done more because she had spent much of her day watching her son.

Let’s dive deeper into both of those statements. “If not me, who? And if not now, when?” While the origin of the quote is attributed to a Jewish rabbi Hillel the Elder, numerous people have used variations as motivation to get things done.

This family had their own projects to do at home. They have friends closer by that need help on things. Dad had plenty of opportunities to apply that statement. Yet, he chose to bring his family here to CVR, bringing his skills and using them so that the mission of CVR can continue in safe and secure ways for other families.

Mom would have likely been more at ease with the safety of her son at home. Their son would have likely felt more comfortable at his own home, with his toys and his routine. She didn’t expect Kim to sit and keep her company. She did what was needed for her children, including watching our youngest alongside them, to be closer as a family and to give her husband the ability to serve with his skills without leaving out his family behind.

Likewise, she didn’t judge me when I took extra resting time before returning to a task, I didn’t expect at any moment for her to somehow do less for her son so that she could work more with me, yet still she wished she could have done more. She provided fellowship and encouragement… one anothering at its finest. I need that to face some of the otherwise undesired and unpleasant tasks that have to be done for us to be able to serve families well.

Now, there are real challenges to serving together as a family….

One person may be more service-minded than another

One person may be more capable than another

One person may need more breaks than another

One person may need more fellowship and conversation during serving than another

One person may just simply drive everyone crazy!

Family serving isn’t about competition with one another or with another family. It is about finding each person’s strengths and helping them maximize those strengths while recognizing each person’s weaknesses and either strengthening those or accepting those – depending on the weakness origin, of course.

Let us leave you with Scripture to ponder as you figure out where you can serve the Lord as a family:

Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.”

Psalm 119:60 “I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

Ephesians 5:15, 16 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

Colossians 4:5 “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.”

Proverbs 3:27-28 “When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs. Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.”

Serving together as a family takes more intentional planning on the front side. It takes flexibility during the service time. It takes patience, understanding, and, yes, even, forgiveness, sometimes. But, if you are intimidated by the idea, let our volunteer friends be an inspiration to you. Start small, make adjustments, and keep moving for the Lord.

Thank you for joining us today. May God guide you as you seek ways to serve Him – together. Be blessed!