Simply Serving

By Patricia Potts

When my husband retired nearly two years ago, he and I decided to do something we never had time for while working and raising a family of 5 children: community service. 

We wanted to maintain a balance between our service to our family, each other, and to the community. We wrote down our individual needs, our immediate family needs, and the needs of our extended family. For example, we began with a blank calendar and filled in time for a weekly date and daily walking together. Next, we scheduled time to help my elderly mom and visit my disabled sister weekly. We then decided how much time we could devote to helping our oldest daughter with her kindergarten classroom. After penciling in possible dates to visit out-of-town children, we noted possible time slots when we could be available for church, community, and social involvement. 

Using an incredible app called JUST SERVE, we learned about MEMORY MATTERS, a service that helps people who have dementia and/or Alzheimer's. During four hour commitments at the community center each week, we came to love each person we served there. 

The JUST SERVE app continues to offer us other opportunities, always near our home.

The joy and fulfillment from simply serving far outweigh the time and effort it has taken. Whether we are helping kindergarten kids learn to read, teaching English to refugees, or helping Alzheimer’s patients with their memory experiences, we feel joy. 

And the smiles we receive are priceless!