Too sick to serve?

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We are at a time of year when there is a lot of focus on presents and food and all else that a celebration of Christmas brings. Thankfully there is also more focus on being kind to one another and serve those in need.
Last year I was struggling hard with exhaustion. I had no energy for anything and I was barely getting through the days. I felt bad for not having any energy to do anything for anyone else. Then I read a piece about a woman bedridden with cancer and how she was able to serve others from her bed. I found that if she could serve, I could too. But how? I was too exhausted to go out and do, so I needed people who needed my help, to come to me, or at least be put in my way so I was there at the moment they needed it. So I prayed and asked for exactly that. Heavenly Father jumped into action quickly and I got a call from someone who asked me to do something that would be on my way and fairly easy to do, but still meant a lot to those it concerned.
The days and weeks following, I kept on bumping into people in town, in the store and elsewhere, who needed a hand or help of some kind right there and then.
Now, you would think that I would be over the moon when the situations arose, but being as exhausted as I was, my first  reaction was when I saw the situation and the need was, almost every time, " I don´t have the energy to do this. I don´t want to do this". Then, immediately, the thought entered my mind, as the voice of the Lord saying, "You asked for this, remember?". And that made me smile, gather as much strength as I could fathom, and do what was needed. I did not gain energy from helping others, but I felt grateful that I actually could do something for someone despite my condition.
So I guess what I want to say is, no matter your situation, there is always a way to serve others, to be part of God´s love to other people. Giving is a gift of itself, and we can all receive it. You too. :-)

With this, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy, loving New Year.

Katinka


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