I have often joked that if I ever write a book, I will entitle it, “Where Are All of the Parades?”. Where is the parade when I wake up early to workout? Where is the parade when my class had a fantastic day and somehow everything I planned was executed and executed well? Where is the parade when I made dinner and did not hear one complaint about it? Where is the parade when I did all of the laundry, folded it, and put it away all on the same day?

I tend to want parades. A pat on the back. Words of affirmation. Acknowledgement for all the hard work that I do. Ever feel that way?

Every now and then, a parade, with chocolate and flowers thrown at me with people cheering me on would be awesome.

Does that sound a little off? A little too much? A little self-serving? While it is nice to feel appreciated every now and then, sometimes that’s just not the reality. You might never hear a “way to go!” or a “thank you!” and that’s ok.

“Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Mark 10:43-45

Think of our Savior, Jesus. He came to this world with one purpose…to save. He worked tirelessly to serve those in need, those who were lost, those who desperately needed a Savior. He served humbly, quietly, selflessly. Never expecting anything in return, but rather hoping for the people he was serving to be victorious after it all was said and done.

It is easy, while we serve others, to desire something in return. It can be easy to want praise or a sense of gratitude for the work you put in day in and day out. But when you fall into the trap of working with a heart that desires parades, remember the One who did it all and ended up on a cross. The One who served with a heart full of love, for you. Pray for that kind of heart. A heart full of love for him. A heart full of servanthood to the Lord.