Volunteering makes life a bit better

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, " Here I am, send me."

- Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

My desire to volunteer started when I was a young girl. If the teacher asked for someone to erase a blackboard or fold papers after school, my hand skyrocketed upward as my heart cried, "Pick me!"

Oftentimes, my mother would ask me to run an errand to the grocery store several blocks away, or deliver something to my aunt who lived around the corner. I felt a warmth inside each time I was able to meet this need.

Many of you can relate to the same situations, when the spirit to volunteer started to motivate you to serve someone in a special way.

Even the biblical prophet Isaiah caught the passion to volunteer when God was looking for someone to go forth and speak to the people of Israel regarding his plan for them.

Volunteers bring relief, provide support and offer assistance to someone in order to meet a need. It may require a step of courage as you take a risk and do something you've never done before or go somewhere you've never been. A friend of mine volunteered to go on a mission trip to another country. She had to think about the health and safety risks involved, but the passion to help won over her own comfort.

Although some volunteers travel far, many people volunteer in their own churches, communities, schools or neighborhoods. Many achieve this by taking a sick friend to a doctor visit; baking cookies for a school bake sale; helping at a hospital, working at a local food pantry; or serving food to the less fortunate.

I heard someone made extras for dinner so she could bring a plate to a recently widowed neighbor. One year when I was ill, my friend came over and put up my Christmas tree.

The ways we volunteer are endless, and so are the blessing they bring. As the holiday approaches, it's a good time to pray and ask God how you can be used to volunteer your services. I believe some of the joy we experience in life's journey happens when we volunteer.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She will be speaking on managing stress and doing a book signing Friday, Nov. 13, from 6-7 p.m. at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach. Invite her to speak at your event or Bible study. Annettee accepts emails at AnnetteeBudzban@aol.com or call (847) 543-8413.