NOUN
1.
Anytime you help out another person
Ex: Taking out garbage cans for a neighbor
2.
Putting someone else’s needs above your own
Ex: Just sitting and listening to someone
who needs to vent about problems is service because you are helping someone
with their emotional needs of being valued and cared for.
3.
Offering yourself to another person so you can leave them
better than you found them
Ex: One time I made my roommate’s bed after
she left our apartment for a stressful morning.
It was small, but I loved her and wanted to lift her up and do something
for her.
4.
Doing something for someone without expected payback
Ex: My roommate making my bed for me.
5.
Giving of yourself so that someone else is better/happier
than when you found them
Ex: Leaving a kind note on my roommate’s
desk
6.
Providing a good, act, or experience to a group or individual
which can lead to compensation for said wares, or done as a charitable act
Ex: 3 years in minimum wage soul crushing
retail work (?)
7.
Doing something for someone else, either because they can’t
themselves, or just because it makes their life easier
Ex: I was leaving the hospital just today, and there
were two older ladies waiting for the valet to bring them their car. One
of the ladies was using a walker and had an oxygen generator and purse
hanging from the walker. When the valet brought the care to them, he got
out left the driver’s door open and went to the next car. I went over and
helped the lady with the walker into the car, untangled the oxygen cord from
the walker, and helped her get everything in the car. I then put the walker
in the back seat of the car so that the other women (also having difficulty
getting around) wouldn’t have to do it. Yes, they would have made it on
their own, but I believe that helping do the simple things that makes someone’s
life just a little easier/better are acts of service.
8.
Anything you do of your own free will for the benefit of others. It doesn’t have to big or grand, it just
needs to be for someone other than yourself.
Ex: taking time out of my own schedule to help a
friend who needs a ride to the airport is a simple thing I’ve done that could
be called service.
9.
Doing something for someone else without expecting anything in return
Ex: Each week I visit people who are dying to try
and make their last hours of life a little more enjoyable
10. Doing something kind for someone else
Ex: I was in a car accident once and I was sort of
in shock the rest of the day and felt like no one cared. I also felt super guilty that I’d totaled our
family’s van. My best friend came by
that night just to make sure I was okay and brought my favorite candy. Super simple act of service but we both
cried. It meant a lot for her to do that
even though she didn’t know I’d felt terrible about it all day.
11. It is giving time, talents, or resources to someone who needs them
Ex: Every week I skype with a man who is a refugee
from Cuba. I feel like I really help the
guy, both by teaching him English and being his friend.
12. Helping someone
Ex: someone making multiple meals for my family
with no prompting from anyone when they were sorely needed
13. Doing something kind for others
Ex: The Walmart greeter told my roommate and I that she was having a
bad day. As we were checking out my
roommate bought her a candy bar and gave it to the greeter.
14. Helping others when it is isn’t always
convenient and expecting nothing in return
Ex: Definitely being a mother
15. Doing something to lighten another person’s
work load; or do something they cannot do for themselves
Ex: When my friend took my money, and picked up breakfast for me
because I was very busy and did not have time.
He desired to help, and it required extra effort for him, but was a
large benefit to me.
16. Service is doing something to help someone
else. Service is seeing a need and
filling it. Service is looking outside
of your own sphere and looking to then needs of others. Service can be as simple as a smile.
Ex: Today someone told me that her Dad died yesterday. She was very sad. I hardly knew her, but she shared that
information with me this morning when we were at a school activity helping our
5th graders. She was trying
to talk about things related to school, but was struggling not to cry. I just said that I wanted to give her a
hug. She gladly accepted and I think it
helped her know that someone cared. I
felt so much love for her, and a desire to do something even small to meet her
needs. I told her that I would keep her
in my prayers.
17. Doing something to help someone else
Ex: When I was on bedrest with my first child I was the recipient of
much service – one friend came over once every 3 days to change my medicine
injection site; another lent me many movies to pass the time; several others
brought in meals; and my mother moved in for a couple weeks to care for me and
the house while my husband was out of town.
