Ah, I have come to the end of my reorientation in Colossians Chapter 3 (that place I run to when it seems I have diverted my walk with God from what it should be.) The verse that ends my path here is one that you will see as part of my signature on my emails. It is the verse I have tried to live out every day. I do not always succeed, but I never stop trying.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” [Colossians 3:17]
I discovered this verse shortly after I was saved and began reading my Bible. I was young and wanted so to be used of God. I told God – “anything, just ask.”
Through a series of events, I ended up volunteering at the Christian School my children attended. They had no cafeteria, so every Thursday, I would come in with a helper or two and in a very tiny (think miniscule) kitchen area off the teacher lounge, I would cook hundreds of hot dogs. I had already baked hundreds of cupcakes and bought chips and drinks. We would sell the lunch for what it cost to make.
I became known as the “hot dog lady.” It was not exactly what I pictured when I told God “anything, just ask.”
Then I came to realize that as those little children passed by my table to get their lunches, I was privileged to give them a hug or a smile or ask about how things were going. When I showed up for Sunday or mid-week services, they would come running to hug the “hot dog lady.”
Have I done greater things since then? Possibly. Maybe in the world’s eyes. But have I done greater things since then in God’s eyes? I doubt it. I was the “hot dog lady” because God asked me to be. I did it in Jesus’ name, and to His glory, giving thanks to God the Father for the opportunity to serve.
It may have been the best thing I ever did.
