Compassionate Service

In defense of those find themselves in a position where they need compassionate service.

I’ve heard comments from those I respect, claiming that service somehow corrupts the heart of the one served.  This comment is usually made by those who will refuse any and all service, yet serve others freely.

Both Receiving and Giving service are important educators for our eternal learning and progress.
This is evident in how our Creator set our lives.

1. As Infants we require service.
2. As we learn and grow, we become independent and strong.  Our Independence becomes a vital part of our self worth.
3. Random setbacks throughout our lives may push us back into a position where we may need compassionate service.  This can be devastating for our self worth.
4. And then at the end of our lives, we slowly loose the abilities that gave us a sense of strength and empowerment.
5. Until we may finally find ourselves, once again, as an infant, requiring constant compassionate service.

Since receiving service is the absolute in both the beginning and end of our lives, and randomly in between perhaps our Creator wants us to learn some essential lessons that can only be learned in those vulnerable moments?

I believe one of these lessons is Compassion.  Service without true, genuine, Compassion can be devastating.

As many of us wrap our self worth on our independence, it can be emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically devastating as setbacks prevent us from meeting our own needs, or the needs of those in our charge.

When someone finds themselves in that position, not only do they need help with the physical, more importantly they need the compassion that communicates respect, love and honor. 

Individuals and families requiring service need to know.

1. They are of worth. 
2. They are Loved
3. They are respected
4. They are understood.

When service is rendered without these vital elements conveyed to the recipient of service, the emotional price paid is paid by loss of self respect.  This is the highest price.

When someone you know and love needs service, remember their soul may be famished too.

When you feed that spiritual hunger, it strengthens the mind, heart and soul of the recipient.  The sooner the soul is fed, the sooner the recipient may gain the inner strength to meet their physical challenges and needs.

Those needing service inherently may feel shame, please, please, let them know they are genuinely loved and respected.

Service without true Christ like Compassion can render more damage than good is done.  One can go about “serving” continuously, and marveling that all whom they serve hate them.  If the people you serve, cannot look you in the eye again, look within yourself.

But with compassion, service strengthens and builds loving respectful bonds between the giver and receiver.

“For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.”

Natalie Fleming