A Saturday of Serving and Growing Together

A Saturday of Serving and Growing Together

As I reflect on today, I realize how quietly meaningful this Saturday has been. It was one of those days that reminds you how growth often happens in ordinary moments when family comes together with a shared heart.

We had family in town and spent time at Barbi’s mom’s house, helping with projects and simply being present. Her brother was in town, and along the way we found ourselves having real conversations about life, about God, about perception and personalities, about serving others, and about what it means to walk through trials and still do our best. Those kinds of conversations stay with you. They stretch you. They remind you that growth doesn’t always come from answers but from listening and being open.

There were a few hiccups along the way while we were working. Things didn’t go exactly as planned at first. But just because something doesn’t unfold the way you expect doesn’t mean it won’t end up right. That felt like a lesson in itself.

Bella Love jumped in to help around the house, and it was such a joy to watch her serve with silliness and a genuine smile. Barbi was right there too, helping, encouraging, and moving things forward. Everyone played a part. There’s something powerful about that kind of shared effort. When everyone serves, no one carries the weight alone.

What stood out to me most today was the reminder of what it means to have a servant’s heart. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. He modeled humility, not pride. And we’re faced with that choice every day. Will we serve ourselves and think more highly of ourselves than we should, or will we follow the example He set and quietly serve those around us?

Today, choosing service brought peace. It brought connection. It brought joy.

I also made space for my disciplines. Some reading. Some exercise. Time to reflect. Spiritual discipline. Physical discipline. Mental discipline. Identity discipline. Not perfectly, but intentionally. When we neglect those anchors, perception starts to lead us instead of truth. Pride can creep in when we begin to identify with things more than we ought to. But humility has a way of re-centering everything.

When we see life as an opportunity to serve and willingly humble ourselves, we make room for the Spirit of Christ to move. And in that space, we experience peace, love, and joy that doesn’t come from being recognized or served, but from giving ourselves away.

As this Saturday comes to a close, I’m grateful. Grateful for family. Grateful for conversation. Grateful for work done together. Grateful for the reminder that growth often happens not in striving, but in serving.