Six years. The time weighs on my heart with a thousand different memories and emotions as I watch my son playing on the living room floor. In only a few short days, the feet that were once small enough to be pressed against an ink pad and into a baby book will walk through the door of a Kindergarten classroom. I'm seeing our time together through new eyes—eyes blurred with bittersweet tears. But I confess, there have been seasons when I've lost perspective.
At times, the relentless demands of mothering overshadow the abundant blessings. Monotony sneaks in to steal my joy. And temptation to run away from my responsibilities lurks on the doorstep. Maybe you're facing these very same struggles as a mom or dad; maybe you're caring for an aging parent and the burden is weighing on you; maybe you're burnt out from volunteering at church and can't muster up the energy for another Sunday. Whatever the less-than-glamorous role in your life may be, I think what we need is a perspective shift.
Beginning in Mark 6:7, we see Jesus sending out the twelve to carry on His ministry. They went out preaching and teaching, driving out demons and healing the sick. Later, they came back to him telling of all the things they had done and taught, no doubt a tiny bit impressed with their accomplishments. But it's what happens after their encounter with the second crowd—the 5,000—that we should take note of.
In verse 37, Jesus responds to the disciples' request to send the people away so they can get food by saying, "You give them something to eat (emphasis mine)." I can almost hear the twelve deflating at Jesus' impossible request; they're already worn out from a full day of ministry! Their stark lack of resources becomes glaringly obvious: "Do you know how much that would cost? We don't have that kind of money! How on earth are we supposed to feed all these people with only five loaves of bread and two measly fish?"
Do we not do the same thing? "Jesus, how am I supposed to face another day at this dead-end job?" "Lord, I can't handle another sleepless night with a screaming baby... I'm at the end of my rope." "Why should I have to be the one volunteering my time for this cause? There just aren't enough resources!"
The end of verse 41 says, "Then he gave [the loaves and fish] to his disciples to set before the people (emphasis mine)." It's almost as if Jesus is asking them, "Will you do this small thing? This less-than-glamorous job of merely feeding people?" I silently ponder the countless number of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I must have made over the past six years...
You see the truth is, serving people by meeting their needs practically is just as important to Jesus as teaching them and healing them. Important enough, even, to bear repeating: the feeding of the 5,000 is the only other miracle besides the resurrection recorded in all four gospels. I wonder if maybe Jesus is trying to tell us something? I wonder if he's not trying to help us keep perspective. To remind us of what the day-to-day responsibilities of life truly are: a call to embrace selflessness and simply serve.
So the next time you feel like throwing up your hands, turn up your gaze instead. The next time you're at the end of your strength, trust in his. And the next time you start to lose yourself in the cacophony of endless demands, quiet your soul and listen for his call...the call to serve.
- Where in your own life have you been struggling to find the strength to keep serving?
- Is there an area, either in your home, work, or church, where you feel the Lord has been asking you to embrace selflessness by serving on a practical level?
- Read John 13:1-17. How does Jesus' model of serving—washing the disciples' feet—set an example for us in our daily lives?