Today’s guest post is by Tiany from Social Savvy Mom
This year I have no New Year’s resolutions, instead, I will keep an ongoing “God Willing List”. Of course I still desire to be more organized, make better use of my time and stick to my workout regimen, among other things.
Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4
One of my greatest desires and sitting at the the top of my God Willing List , was to take part in a mission trip. While raising my boys, keeping my home and running a small business, I had put the idea on the back burner for a decade and accepted that God had placed me where he could best use me for this season in my life. He always has a perfect plan for us!
I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD ~ Jeremiah 29:11
In October I was presented with a wonderful opportunity to work with ABC News for their new campaign, Million Moms Challenge. Towards the end of the 3 month campaign, I received a call from Million Moms organizers, they wanted to send me on a trip to Guatemala with Save the Children. I was given one day to decide and only two weeks notice before the trip was to take place. Everything seemed to fall into place quite easily, my sister volunteered to stay with my boys {bless her heart}, my mother helped fly my sister to Louisiana from Georgia and my husband had given his blessing.
Two weeks later I was on a plain to Guatemala, a HUGE answer to prayer. The short 4 days with the people of rural Guatemala changed me and changed my outlook on so many aspects of my own life. I was able to see first hand how members of the community serve as community healthcare workers. These healthcare workers are saving lives in their own rural, remote villages. Healthcare workers who are poverty stricken themselves, walk miles serving and checking in on mothers, newborns and children. In each village we visited, we were introduced to more amazing men and women making a difference in their own communities.
As a mother, it tore at my heart to see families in such extreme poverty, 80% of the children in the rural, remote villages we visited were malnourished. While in Guatemala, I felt an overwhelming obligation to reach out and ease burdens.
A new year used to mean preoccupation with “self”. This new year my heart is still with the people of Guatemala. This new year I hope to find more ways to reach out and serve as a family. My greatest desire is to raise my boys to have a servants heart.
Here are just a few ways we can serve others in 2012:
- Serve God through your family
- Give an hour of your time to help someone in need.
- Give a hug of affirmation.
- Prepare a meal for someone who is sick or for a mom who has had a baby.
- Sponsor a child
- Donate unused items
- Give to missions
- Anonymously adopt a family in need during the holidays or any day.
- Volunteer at your local soup kitchen as a family
- Visit a nursing home / read to the elderly
May we prayerfully be the hands and the feet of Christ whenever we can… wherever we can… to whomever we can.
How will you serve this year? I would love to hear how you have found opportunities to serve in your communities and homes.
Tiany is the mom of 4 boys and wife of 16 years to one amazing Jazz drummer. Owner of The Homeschool Lounge and blogger at Social Savvy Mom.
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