Like many homes, my parents gifted my sister and me the responsibility of doing chores around the house growing up. These chores ranged from vacuuming to taking out the trash, plus many others. We would usually do these tasks together, and when I look back, some of my favorite memories with my sister are unloading the dishwasher as we danced to Diana Ross blaring through the speakers “Stop in the Name of Love.”
After our chores, my sister would always go up to my Dad with a big smile and say, “All done!” My Dad would usually hug her and express his thanks, to which my sister would respond by boldly laying her hand before him, saying, “That’ll be $20. Pay up.”
The funny thing about this was that my parents never paid us for chores. They always told us they never got paid to do them, and when I grew up, unfortunately, I wouldn’t be paid either, except for the rare occurrence when I might find $5 in my pocket when I do laundry. My parents taught us that we do things, not because we expect something in return, but because we are part of a community and care for that community and the world around us.
These were hard lessons to learn as a child, but as I grew up, they became valuable. When I read the prayer for today, “May I learn to offer my whole self as a gift rather than leverage my gifts for personal gain,” it reminded me once again that we are part of a community called to care for that community.
Turning our intentions away from what we can receive to what we can offer changes our thoughts, actions, and words. This mentality doesn’t only make a shift in our personal lives, but it can also shift our communities. By stepping past ourselves, we create a culture of change for the greater good, not just our desires.
Could you imagine a world where people only do things to benefit themselves?
We would look at that world and say they were in crisis, full of painfully exhausted people trying to keep up and look their best. Yet, that’s what we could say our world looks like right now.
It would be easy for us to seek our own gains, but as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we recite something that makes me stop. We pray, “Your Kingdom Come.” By praying these three simple words, we are not only asking for the Kingdom of Heaven to come down, but we are asking for the Kingdom to show up through us to others, meaning, we no longer seek our desires but seek what brings the Kingdom closer to those around us.
Bringing the Kingdom closer to someone today may mean stepping outside our daily routines.
It may sound like listening to those who feel unwelcome and cast out.
It may feel like giving grace to those who may need it.
May we be challenged today to be part of the community that chooses to share the Kingdom with those around us.
Elizabeth McDonald is thankful to serve at the La Sierra University Church as the Pastor for Children and Family.