With Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas sneaking up behind it, this holiday season could be one of my favorites. Normally, this time of year is amazing. I love getting festive and enjoying time with family and friends. However, this year is quite different because I am in a whole new community surrounded with people who don’t experience the same #blessed moments that I get to have each year. I think that it’s important to show these folks the love and kindness that has been multiplied throughout my life. Although the holiday season has inspired me to write this piece, service for others is something we should all be doing 24/7.

Obviously, as a college student, there is a pretty low fund to bless people with physical gifts. I mean, treating someone to a candy bar occasionally seems like a big sacrifice according to my bank account. Service doesn’t have to involve money, though. Serving others is much deeper than that. Living a life of service means giving up your own interests for the interests of others. Service, sacrifice, and giving all combine to create the personification of living a Godly life. Service should come from the heart and overall personify much of our existence. What you lack in money, make up for in time. You’re lacking in that as well? Same. It’s alright to be busy, but without caring for other people, we truly don’t get the chance to understand how God has changed our lives.

The world around us can be served in so many ways. People everywhere need to know that there are kind hearts ready to care. More importantly, we should all be ready to care for one another. This may be in different types. How about simply having a conversation with the girl in the next dorm about her semester or writing them an encouraging note instead! There are so many ways you can transform your talents and interests to serve others. The most important thing is to do it not expecting any rewards. Your reward should be the warm and fuzzy feeling you have after the fact.

I leave you with this: Ephesians 5:2 (GWT)- Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.

Live your life as a sacrifice.