John 12:26
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
The small bathroom smelled of urine and human waste. The hard tile floor cut into my knees. I slung the jeans I had just pulled off the thin, braced legs and grumbled out loud. "Just what am I doing in a place like this?"
I had turned down this job assignment two years before and now, it was this job in the school for the severe and profoundly mentally challenged or no job.
"I wanted to serve You, God. Write songs and stories."
I took the soiled underwear off my nine-year-old charge. Most of my three weeks with Matt was spent trying to get him to go to the bathroom on the potty, put a block in a can, or at least give eye contact. It was useless. He wouldn't.
To get him to look me in the eye was impossible. His eyes seemed to be the only thing he was able to control. He had no verbal skills, little motor control. He looked away or squeezed his eyes shut, anything but give eye contact.
I dropped the underwear on my dress. "Oh, Matt, look what you've done." I screamed.
He gave his soundless laugh and smiled a grin made toothless from the many falls his wobbly legs took. Most days that smile would have melted my heart, but not today. My patience broke.
"God, I hate this."
The small room grew still. I felt Matt's stare. I glanced up and met his stare. He looked far past my eyes into my soul. In the quietness of the moment, God’s words touched my heart.
"I didn't ask you to write songs or stories. I said if you do anything unto the least of these, you've done it unto Me."
Then Matt looked away.
In the quiet moments of the year that followed, Matt taught me so many things. I do get to write stories now. My stories and books have received honors, even one presented by our former First Lady, Laura Bush. But that day on the bathroom floor when Matt looked into my soul, God truly brought me honor.
God, thank you for opening our ears, for teaching us the miracle of serving others, the joy of seeing You in the souls of others. Help us to serve and submit to being served.
Peggy Freeman
