Don't Deny Service

These are paired books of poetry I’d written for my parents and gifted for their forthcoming birthdays (though on Christmas). The coverlets were designed and crafted by @sproutecreative. The contents are personal, but essentially about their unique (each book is different, but can be read as a single poem) contributions to my life.

I once heard a sermon about how Jesus’ followers are called not just to minister but to accept the help/service of others.

When we decline assistance, don’t ask for help, or reject outreach, we have injured ourselves and others. We have denied others the ability to become givers, to practice service, to spiritually mature, to grow and improve, to follow-through on divine ordinance.

When we deny service, we think we’re making a statement about our personal resolve or adhering to a code about “not being a burden” to others. But, in fact, we are generally investing in a greater future burden for ourselves and them, turning our backs on what it means to be perfected and setting a precedent for a detached and uncaring world.

As I was enjoying the opportunity to help my parents, and as they accepted my assistance, I was stricken by the experience that we were all able to have in our spirits and our humanity. People have a tendency to focus on a fiction: “I did/do all this BY MYSELF and FOR YOU (coworkers, partners, kids, etc.).” However, that service is an opportunity to grow in your humanity and spirit. Both when we serve and when we accept service we are able to become more whole. All other pretense is an insistence on staying broken and hoping brokenness on others.