I have seen several businesses use this slogan in their advertising, focusing on the quality of their customer service and the happy customers it makes. Though this school year is only 4 weeks old we have already seen many instances of the servant culture that is so evident at Parkes Christian School. This includes setting up or cooking sausages at the welcome BBQ, picking up rubbish in the playground when you think no one is even watching, packing up and setting up chairs for chapel or assembly, sitting with someone who is looking a little down, or any number of examples just from the past 3 weeks.
I also love that this servant culture is also not determined by title or position, meaning yes we see the SRC members being willing to serve but they also go above and beyond the expectations placed on them. We also see so many students without a title, without being asked and without any thought about reward or recognition being willing to strive to build a positive environment in and around our school.
Former President of the USA John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address said “ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country”. So many students and community members at this school look for ways they can be a blessing to help advance the nature and culture of our school and it truly is why PCS is such a wonderful place. Our school is a place where people have the opportunity to excel in a myriad of ways and we focus not just on academic excellence, though we do strive for this. It is about helping to build civic-minded community members with a desire to leave things better than we found them, “to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” as Hebrews 10:24 tells us.
Jesus’ own example is of one who came to serve rather than be served. Even the very night before he was killed he knelt down and washed his disciples’ dirty smelly feet to exemplify to them the need to put others needs ahead of our own. Because that is what love is, putting others ahead of ourselves, “greater love has no man than to lay down his life for another” John 15:13.
I gain great joy when I see others, especially children who have already learnt that giving is better than receiving, that great joy comes from helping others and that giving back to a greater cause often helps us all grow anyway.
How do you build a servant’s heart? One step, one act, one choice at a time?
By service we all grow.
Mr Drew