How many of us in the south use “BLESS” for everything? Remember how the phrase, “Bless his Heart” really meant…” you’re so stupid” …ouch! But then, we’d give a little laugh. Mainly, because we realized how many times someone could say that about us. Blessing is a word maybe overused today but certainly rich with meaning!
As mission volunteers come to serve with our families that need home repairs, they share how they want to be a blessing to someone else. After the day or week is done, a deeper reflection reveals how that person was blessed instead. Rich conversations, deep dialogues, and the lines of economics, age, and ethnicity all fade away. What is left are shared moments of loving, serving, praying, and listening. We are blessed to be a blessing!
A few years ago, we came across an acrostic that now guides our ministry theology. Can you guess what it is? Yep, BLESS. Because we are intentional about forming and building relationships with our homeowners, we needed a tool to help missioners engage. BLESS has helped us create this tangible way of sharing with others! The awesome thing about this, is that we can share this with our homeowners about the missioners coming to be with them. It works both ways! What does BLESS stand for?
B– Be in prayer. Prayer undergirds all we do and is the first form of care we offer to our families and day camp kids. Before a mission team ever arrives, they are invited to begin praying for the family of whom they will serve. Prayers are offered throughout the day and no less than three times on a worksite, the team will pray with the family learning of prayer concerns and opportunities. Pray undergirds our action!
L–Listen. Of course there is the musing of having one mouth and two ears. We get to listen first. Listen to what? Stories, common ground, what was life like growing up, family, and elements of the family’s backstory. Amazing information is shared and learned.
E- Eat. Yes, we all have to eat. It is essential and we build our schedules around eating. Who does not love an old- fashioned church pot luck? Our holidays are usually about what we will eat and coming around the table together. Jesus ate with his disciples and communion, the Lord’s Supper, is a foundational part of the Christian faith. Middle Eastern standards of hospitality is killing the fatted calf or goat and sharing in a meal! Eating with our families is a beautiful way of fellowshipping together. The table breaks down so many barriers. Just take a look at how many parables and teachings have to do with food!
S-Share Your Story. When we have engaged in the first three, we now have built trust and mutuality in such a way, we can now share our story. Maybe that is your personal faith story. Maybe it is what life was like for you. Maybe it is the encouraging words that help a family in a hard situation. After we have listened, we are in less danger of being paternalistic and patronizing of a family with a different way of life and different economic situation. It is less about fixing someone or giving advice we expect to be followed and more about encouragement and mutual vulnerability. It is beautiful when in a holistic context.
S-Serve. I love how in this model, serving is not the most important. And, the “S” could be flipped with “share your story” as the last “S”. Either way, the serving is born from a sense that we are all givers and receivers. Serving looks like the friendship Jesus had for his disciples. It is the kind of friendship that would have us take a towel and wash someone’s feet…and allow our feet to be washed (John 13).
B-L-E-S-S!
As you share and serve and think about blessing others, try out this little tool. We would love to hear your stories! Over the following weeks, I am going to do a deeper dive into each one and share a family story with you!
Many blessings on the journey!
lisa
