Serving in A Sorority House

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”— Ephesians 5:1-2

I have now officially met a sorority house “mom.”

At a dinner party this past weekend, I struck up a conversation with the mother of one of my friends and found that she has lived for 17 years in a sorority house at our local university. As she described the old house she lived in (complete with noisy pipes near her room), housekeepers, and the rowdy frat house across the street, I couldn’t help but be enchanted by her story. I was amazed that someone of retirement age would want to live with a bunch of college women.

Her eyes lit up as she described how they’d be decorating the house for Christmas, how she’d started a Baking Club with some of the women, how they would return and visit her after they graduated, and how she often keeps later hours than her counterparts due to their schedules and activities. An active Christian, she also attends church, works another job, volunteers, and shares the Gospel when she can. Getting up each morning, donning her “Mom” hat, she is a light to all the women she lives with, a listening ear, a helpful friend, an encouraging host.

I was honored to make her acquaintance, I was inspired by her passion to live and work with young people, and I was blown away by how her gentle compassion could reach out and touch fragile and sometimes damaged lives. I chose the picture above as it is what I can imagine she imparts to her sorority house—–and so much more. She helps girls to dream. To have courage. To be inspired. To live in harmony. She lives and breathes the love and compassion of Christ.

God calls us to serve in many places. We may serve in our own homes. We may serve in our workplace. We may serve in our ministries at church. We may serve in our neighborhood or school. We may serve in the most unlikely places. And even in a large sorority house there is a place to serve. God can use all locations, all gifts, all circumstances, to reach out and touch lives. Wherever you are at this week, I pray you will see your chance to serve in love. Live and breathe the compassion and love of Christ…. a damaged and suffering world needs it!

Prayer–“God, you use all circumstances, all locations, all gifts, for ministry. Empower me to serve right where I am at, and use my gifts to the fullest. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”