By SIERRA DUKE
Sheridan High School Student
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abigayle Williams.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “It is better to give than to receive.” I truly think it is. There is nothing like the gift you get from giving to others.
Serving is simply helping or giving to other people. You don’t have to go out and buy something for someone. Sometimes all people need is your time. There are lots of great ways to serve and give back. Whatever you do, serving is a major gift to others and to yourself.
There are many opportunities to serve in the church. You can serve by passing out bulletins, greeting, and passing communion and offering plates. You can also volunteer to lead or help teach classes for any ages, be it small group leaders for middle and high school students or chaperones or leaders for church camps. You can also raise money and go on missions trips. These trips can be in America or they can be overseas. Mission trips are a huge way to serve and give back to people who are less fortunate than you.
You also gain a lot from serving other people. Outside of church you can donate money to many organizations. You can also serve in a food pantry, or there are many other volunteer opportunities available.
Last summer I went on a mission trip to Kentucky with my youth group. We helped people in need. We fixed part of a ceiling and part of some flooring, worked on building a porch, cleaned for elderly people who were physically unable to do so themselves, and met with kids to tell them stories, do crafts and play games with them.
I went into the trip thinking about the lives I would touch, how I would help other people and how important I would be to the people I was helping. While I did meet and help many people, I ended up going home with a gift bigger than I could give any of the people there. The conversations and the relationships I had were so hard to give up.
I cleaned for a lady with cancer. She didn’t feel well so she had to lie in bed the entire time we were there, and she was apologizing about it. I helped build a porch for a lady who struggled to walk, and she was happy and joking the entire time we were with her. I formed a relationship with a little boy and he asked if he would see me the next week, but I had to tell him goodbye.
I learned a lot about myself on that trip. I learned about how I can serve and help other people. When I went home I found there were so many ways to serve. All I had to do was help people out with a great, caring and compassionate attitude.
One thought the leaders there left us with was, “Your mission trip isn’t ending, it’s just beginning.” They were telling us that we need to continue to serve others. While I went away on a trip to help other people, there are many things we can do for our neighbors at home. Plenty of people need help with cleaning, repairs and other things around the house, and kids need love and attention.
There is some way for every single person to be able to serve. This can include serving in church, in the military, or simply helping other people. You serve others by bringing a meal to someone who just had surgery or mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor.
There are many different organizations where you can donate money or goods to others. For example, Operation Christmas Child allows you to pack shoe boxes with toys that will be shipped to kids in different countries.
Seeing the joy others get from the help they receive is like no other feeling in the world. Serving others will benefit them and you, and it will help you to be a better person.