September 25, 2023
Brittany Polis ‘08 Worthen
Associate Professor, Asbury University School of Education
When I hear the word “service,” I initially think of grand, sacrificial acts. However, through different stages of my life, I have come to realize that service can take many forms.
In college, service opportunities were plentiful and mainly involved sacrificing my time. When I married my husband, service looked different as we chose to sacrifice time together to participate in activities such as mission trips, volunteering with local charities, and helping lead various ministries at our church.
Now, as a mother of two young children, a professor, and a wife, I am learning to view service in a more focused and practical way. In this season of life, my focus is on my family and how I can serve them— cleaning up around the house, enjoying quality time together, or cooking a meal and occasionally making an extra dish to give to a friend or neighbor. I have found the best service I can commit to in this walk of life is to be present with my family — giving them my time, my energy, and my love. And honestly, this is all I sometimes have the mental capacity for.
In Psalm 15 and Romans 12:13, we are encouraged to share with those in need and practice hospitality. It is important to remember that service can take many forms and doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming, it can be small and simple acts of kindness that allow us to be used by God.
If you find yourself in an extraordinarily busy time of life, think about the small ways you can serve others that can still make a big difference. How do you feel God can love through you? What are ways you can share with others and practice friendliness and generosity? Perhaps this looks like coffee with a friend or helping a roommate organize their schoolwork. Serving does not have to be a grand gesture; even the simplest acts can be used by the Lord to radically impact others.