While my husband was mowing our yard on Saturday evening, I decided to run down to the store for some good old fried chicken. Working behind the counter was a familiar face…a sweet woman who often waits on me. I always ask her how she’s doing and ask about her elderly mother who lives with her. She missed seeing Aaron with me and was asking about him. Everyone knows Aaron…trust me on that! 😊
I ordered my chicken, and then asked for a few more pieces to be added a la carte. As she filled the container for me, she told me that she would just put in those extra legs and thighs at no charge. I said no, that I would pay for them, but she insisted on her plan. The reason?
“You are always so kind to me,” she said. “I want to do this for you.”
I was so touched…a little embarrassed…and walked away very blessed.
The next morning our pastor shared a meaning of that very familiar word…the word, “blessed.”
He said that to bless means, “To kneel in order to serve.”
He talked about how Jesus knelt down and washed the disciples’ feet. Jesus was kneeling in order to serve.
We often talk about how we want to be a blessing, to God and to others. We also talk about God blessing us.
But how can I possibly bless God?
I bless God by kneeling and serving. I kneel before God, certainly. But I am also to be like Jesus and kneel in service before the people in my life.
As Gary and I listened to the sermon, it hit me. God had given me a sweet object lesson of this “blessing” principle just the evening before.
I had blessed this deli worker by showing her that I cared about her and her life. She turned around and blessed me by giving me some free chicken. I wasn’t showing her kindness for the purpose of getting something free, but my kindness gave her the desire to bless me in return.
As I serve God, I am blessing Him…and He, in return, will bless me.
I don’t mean that God will give me free stuff. I mean that God will kneel down in His kindness and will bless me with joy…peace…love…grace…and other such sweet blessings that are promised to me all through scripture.
Sometimes, though, we think of serving God in big, obvious, public ways. Our human nature and our culture tend to value the well-known over the little-known.
Over the years, more and more, God has taken away most of the public ways I had of serving Him. Instead, God has brought home to me that, well, my home is to be my primary place of blessing God and blessing others. This is my personal experience and doesn’t mean that it will be yours as well. But wherever God has put you is where you ARE, by His plan, and that is the place where you can still bless Him and others.
Home can be a hard place to feel like I am a blessing. The sameness and the drudgery of home life, honestly, can squelch the feeling that I often associate with being a blessing.
Cleaning around the toilet can be a blessing? Really?!
But I’m brought back to Jesus, humbling himself by doing the disgusting work of a servant.
Washing the disciples feet can be a blessing? Really?!
Really.
I kneel. And I serve. In the place where God has put me.
I don’t choose the place. I don’t choose the service.
Validation isn’t the important thing.
Serving is the important thing.
For me, I serve God as I serve Aaron. He was given to us by God.
On a seizure day:
While we walk:
Or he TALKS:
When he wins and grins:
Or asks for that homemade milkshake:
The times are precious:
And so are the children and the homes that we are given!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1-2)
He Said What?! 
I love the thought of “kneeling to serve” the picture will stay with me for along time.
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I loved it, too. Thanks for reading!
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This blessed my heart today, Patty. The reminder is timely in my life. I love the phrase, “kneel to serve” . Our Saviour set the ultimate example! What a privilege we have to serve his precious children….those who live with us as well as those who we come in contact with in our community. May the Lord richly bless you today as you continue to honor Him with your service.
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And you just blessed ME, Sindy! May you be full of God’s blessings today as well. ❤️
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You already know this, Patty, but I’ll affirm it anyway. God sees you cleaning around those toilets (!), pouring yourself out in secret. It’s a much harder thing to do, serving in secret, than out in the world where others see and provide accolades for your self-sacrifice. But your blessings, ministered at home, are a beautiful expression of your love for family and for God–untainted by ego or people-pleasing. And I hear God applauding!
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So beautifully said, Nancy! Thank you, thank you! ♥️♥️
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Hi Patty, Your post reminded me of this Mother Teresa quote: ““Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa 🌺
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I love that quote! Thank you for sharing! ❤️
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Thank you for once again encouraging us, Patty. Service is a funny thing in that if we aren’t in the proper frame of mind, we can discount it. But the renewed mind has a true embrace, and is energized through service. The joy of service isn’t always in the moment, but God always brings fulfillment as we operate in love. The pictures of Aaron are so sweet. God bless you guys! ♥
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True words, Jacquie. Thank you, and God bless you guys too! 💖
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I needed to hear this today. Thank you💕 The pictures of Aaron tell a sweet story 😄
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Thank you, Deb! Blessings to you! ♥️
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It’s so easy for me to get overwhelmed by the dream to make a BIG impact for God and to forget the millions of LITTLE things I can/am doing day by day. The LITTLES add up. They’re significant. They’re purposeful.
Thanks for this reminder. 🙂
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Love your words, Sara! Thank you! ❤️
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You are such a graceful woman. I love your heart and love the practicality of this message. Thank you for sharing ma’am. 🤗
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Thank you so much, sweet friend. God’s Grace! ♥️
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You are welcome ma’am. Amen.
Hugs. ❤
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So beautiful. I will remember and share that. Kneeling in order to serve. Oh yes we have been so blessed by our Jesus!
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I love the image of that and the meaning. We are blessed indeed!
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This is so true Patty! God gave me Ben to help and to serve for 22 years! It didn’t always seem like a blessing to me, but as I look back I see that was where God put me for that time. I may have blessed Ben, but he blessed me a million times over❤️ Then, suddenly, God decided to put me in another kind of service and hopefully , with His help, I will bless those He puts in my way! And I know Aaron will always be blessed by you❤️
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Thank you, Doretha! I know you’re a blessing to me! ♥️♥️
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