Love calls us to care for the needs of others. And this is not always glamorous or pleasant. In fact, we might have to do the “dirty work” of caring for the basic needs and hygiene of another. And while unappealing, these remain moments of high honor and privilege, as there’s a sense in which we get to minister to Christ himself.
Certainly, we can see this as parents minister to and serve the needs of their young children – changing diapers, combing their hair, getting them dressed, and the like. While we tend to think of this as “just parenting,” it’s also an act of love. We have the duty to wash and clothe, to feed and sit with them in the dark hours of the night when they can’t sleep.
And often this cycle of life and love continues when we then have to care for our aging parents – assisting them with their basic needs in very similar ways they did for us when we were young.
Likewise, we might have to care for our wife or other loved ones temporarily while they recover physically, or perhaps become a permanent caregiver when they can no longer do for themselves.
Whatever it looks like, love often calls us to many unattractive tasks. But as Christ taught, when we serve the least of these, we’re also serving him. And it’s here that we find the joy and pleasure in our serving. It’s not that we’re excited about the task itself or look forward to doing such dirty work. But we see it as an opportunity to humbly love and glorify God. And we must not let pride keep us from getting our hands dirty.
In the end, love provides what is needed, even when this means doing the “dirty work” of caring for the basic needs and hygiene of another. While not for everyone, don’t miss your chance to minister to Christ when this opportunity knocks at your door.
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash
