Inconvenienced?

This week I had the privilege of being inconvenienced. My entire schedule and plans were laid aside to parent another family’s seven children. The father had to go through an unexpected surgery, the mother was five months pregnant with their eighth child, and they live miles and miles away from their families of origin.

But this is my family, sharing the same heavenly Father and preparing to spend eternity together. So no matter how difficult it was to lay aside what was on my agenda, it was a call of God and I had no other option but to say “Yes.”

Was this an easy thing to do? Heck, no! It meant postponing so many things that I thought were priorities and needed to be done. But there was a great need in our body and the Bible makes it clear what I am called to do.

[verse reference=”Galatians 6:2″]Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ[/verse]

We posted a picture on Facebook of their children and ours having dinner together to share with this mother and father while they were at the hospital. When my biological sister saw it, she called me a saint. I detested that at first, saying that it’s what anyone would have done. But then I decided to look up the word. “Saint” is defined as a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence. I believe this should describe everyone who calls Jesus Christ Savior and Lord.

As Christians, God is calling on us to do what may not seem normal to the average Joe.

God desires not only to interrupt our schedules, but that His life shining in and through us would interrupt and transform our lives in such a way that others would want to know what drives us!

This will give us an opportunity to give testimony of Christ and His redemption to a seeking world. God’s agenda will probably not coincide with our daily tasks or bullet point lists we feel need to be accomplished.

This same sister and my brothers (and nieces and nephews) are currently caring for my dying father. They have scheduled 24-hour care for him and are available for his every need. They have adjusted their schedules, events, and everyday plans to do the extraordinary in the last days of his earthly life. To me, it is a picture of the love Christ has shown us. I choose not to use the word “saint” but they are what God has called us to be—”servants.”

Then Jesus told his disciples,

[verse reference=”Matthew 16:24″]“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”[/verse]

{Editor’s Note: This article was first published on MomLife Today in late 2014, Robyn’s heart to remind us to love others through selfless serving is a message worth repeating!}

Robyn McKelvy

Robyn McKelvy has devoted her life to the care and building up of others. In her home, through the church her husband pastors and through years of speaking at Weekend To Remember Get-Away’s around the country as well as countless women’s events. Robyn is the mom of seventeen children, seven in heaven and nine amazing souls here on earth who have received her full attention from the time they were born or grafted into her family. Robyn’s book SOS – Sick of Sex is in stores now as is her devotional book, Say IT Loud: Becoming your husband’s personal cheerleader. Robyn has been a mom for 24 years and married to Ray for over 25 years.

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