Our mission is to serve others
“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
— John 20:21 (NIV)
When I was a young wife and mother, I would often read books about missionaries and fantasize about going to other countries to serve. In my chosen profession as a nurse, I was certain I could be of use.
But with a husband and three small boys, I didn’t see how it was possible. So, eventually I placed my dreams on the back-burner and attended to my practical, everyday life.
One Sunday after church service, I walked toward the sanctuary doors to leave, only to glance up and read a sign: “You Are Now Entering the Mission Field.”
At that moment, I realized we are all missionaries and the whole world is our mission field. Not just in foreign lands, but our in our homes, jobs and neighborhoods.
Having the heart to serve, wherever we are, is what our mission in life is all about. Jesus himself was the greatest example of this. He served right in his own homeland.
As he would take a leisurely walk, he would stop and heal someone. Or when cruising the lake on a casual boat ride, he would preach to a crowd. Each day he just used what came his way to fulfill his mission.
One day after shopping, I was trying to get my cart filled with bags through a doorway that didn’t have automatic doors. I was struggling to push the heavy door with one hand, while pulling my cart through with the other. Another customer, noticing my struggle, came to my rescue, holding the door for me. I wonder if they know they were on God’s mission that day.
One of my sons, having a more flexible schedule than his brothers, has been appointed to be the family errand boy. His brothers, when in need of an assist, oftentimes call him to see if can run an errand for them. I tease him, “God sent you to us for this.”
Several decades ago, I used to give a neighbor a ride to the doctor. When her twin baby girls arrived, I was surprised when she named one after me.
We may not be missionaries in a foreign land, but serving others right where we are in big and small ways can be just as fulfilling.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.