January 06, 2009
Willing and Weak
My Grandma had a servant’s heart and was always volunteering for things…even beyond the point where she could meet the obligation. She would sign up to make cookies for VBS, but then she couldn’t drive to the store to get the ingredients, nor could she make the delivery once they were baked. Even in her 80’s Grandma once told a friend that she was going to make him a country western shirt. The project however fell to her daughter Carol, who wound up buying the material, cutting out the pattern, sewing it up, putting on the snaps…and even delivering the shirt. I don’t think Grandma ever considered that, “…The spirit is willing, but the body is weak,” might somehow apply to her. (Matt 26:41b NIV)
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Gail;
-----We do not know how seriously your Grandmother’s friend needed the shirt. Presuming, for whatever reason, the shirt met a real need in the friend’s life, you have presented a fine illustration of fellowship in body life. The friend had a need. Your Grandmother was in the position to know the need, but not to meet it. Carol had the ability to meet the need, but evidently she was not in the position to know the need. Carol and your Grandmother came together in real participation. And Carol actually served two people, your Grandmother’s friend who needed a western shirt, and your Grandmother who needed to get one to him. Even if the friend had no need for a western shirt (maybe his closet was full of them,) Carol served your Grandmother by helping her make a simple gesture.
-----Also, your Grandmother worked to her fullest in baking cookies for the VBS program. She did not have the ability to acquire the ingredients or to deliver the product, but she did what she was able to do. Again, the others who went to the store and who delivered the cookies served both your Grandmother and VBS.
-----Whether or not the cookies or the shirt were needed, those who helped your Grandmother participate performed a great service to both the Lord and your Grandmother. For when a person grows old and less able, they do not grow less a person. They only grow less able. They still have the need to participate in the things of the Lord’s people. Your Grandmother’s inability to complete these projects from beginning to end would have excluded her from the joy of participating had it not been for others contributing to her effort. She would have truly been destined to the obscurity of being out to pasture, sidelined from action. But those who helped became her servants to a special end, they rescued her from the pasture and brought her in from the sideline. Your Grandmother remained connected to her community. I hope they realize how important their assistance is.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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