Panda Wisdom

I took my kids to the movies a few weeks ago to see Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D. There was this scene when the Panda and all his cohorts are getting ready to go into battle together. As Panda looks to his right and to his left, his heart just swells because he is getting ready to do what he loves most with the people he loves best.



That is the perfect picture of service.

Gather up your friends, family, church group, whoever you know, and go find something to do. Serve lunch at a local shelter, sort clothes at a clothing giveaway...heck, clean out all your closets and host a clothing giveaway. Rake leaves and pick up trash in a city park.

We were never meant to go it alone, and what better way to build community than to serve in your community together, shoulder to shoulder, getting something done for someone in need.

This past Labor Day, I gathered up my mom and her neighbor, some women from church, my kids, and my husband, and we put on a BBQ for the Hope Center, an outreach ministry in my city.

For Mother's Day 2012, my friends and family put on a brunch at the homeless shelter for the women there. Instead of celebrating my abundance of kids with gifts and adoration (I let them do that another day, lol) we took the show on the road and became a blessing to those without.

Today was Grandfriend's Day at my youngest son's school, and it would not have happened without a great bunch of volunteers all jumping in and working together. My favorite part was watching how each person just did what needed to be done. This is a school in transition and it made my chin a little quivery to see it all come together.

Like yesterday's song said, greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city...so let's grab some friends, roll up our sleeves, and get to it. I think the Panda is on to something.