Convos with Kenyans

I recently had two thought provoking conversations.  The first was with my house helper Elizabeth and the second was with my driver Philip.  It's odd to think of them as my workers because I pay them, but for as often as we talk, I also appreciate our friendship.  

Elizabeth has been with me for the last two years.  She is married and has two kids, but she also takes care of her handicap sister.  As you can imagine it can be hard to have a full time job, two little ones and an adult sister with special needs.  Elizabeth is in the process of finding a home for her sister so she doesn't have to be alone all day while the family is either at school or work.  While talking to Elizabeth about her sister's situation Elizabeth marveled at how God created her sister.  She told me of how she asked the questions, "how does my sister glorify God?"  Her conclusion was that her sister glorifies God just by being.  With the form of handicapped Elizabeth's sister isn't capable of a job, she can't talk and can hardly take care of herself, but God made her to live on this earth as His child.  I have to agree with Elizabeth's conclusion.  It's not about what her sister does that brings glory to God.  Her sister glorifies God just by being made in His image.  

I was so touched by our conversation because I had come to the same conclusion about myself a few years back.  As I contemplated the birth of my niece at the time, I realized that as a baby she couldn't do anything to serve God, or make Him proud through her work.  As a baby she glorified God just by being.  

My worth to God isn't through working harder, it's about being His child.  

If that's not enough to think about, I had a thought provoking conversation with my driver and friend Philip.  When you're on the road with the same person for 3 hours at least once a month, you get to know a person and have some great conversations.  Philip is a dad and part of the worship team at the AIC where RVA attends once a month.  We have talked about the election, the national anthem and this last time we drove, serving God.  Philip mused that not everyone can be a pastor.  He shared that if everyone were a pastor where would the farms be, or the drivers like him?  Philip's thoughts come from the idea notion that not everyone can leave their jobs and become a pastor so they can tell people about Jesus.  He argued that doing his job as a driver servers others and gives him the opportunity to talk about Jesus.  Philip went so far as to say that a farmer who doesn't have contact with people very often, but if he left to be a pastor who would grow the carrots that fed us.  As I write I can hear the words of Scripture about the body of Christ.  I loved Philips words because it reminded me that whatever I do to serve others I do to God's glory.  

So, although just being God's child glorifies Him, when I do work or serve, whatever I do is for Him too.