If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

— Isaiah 58:10

The roles of mom, dad, brother, and sister can be broader than traditional definitions suggest. My mom has embodied an expansive view of motherhood throughout her life. She not only raised my siblings and me alongside our father, but she also served as a Christian school principal for 35 years and as an elder in her church. Her influence reached far beyond our home—spending summers in Ukraine, Uganda, and Russia, as well as three years in Bangkok to help establish Christian schools.

When I was a single father with sons ages 7, 4, and 1, my mom stepped in to help me, sharing as a grandmother the same energy and devotion she had shown as a mother. Her love, especially in times of need, reflected God’s calling to spend herself on behalf of others. She’s always been a square peg in a world that tries to fit people into round holes, and that uniqueness is her strength. The churches, orphanages, and schools she has served have benefited deeply from her gifts—as have we, her family.

God promises his servants: “You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Is there someone in your life whose faith and service reflect God’s light and bless others in remarkable ways?

Lord, thank you for all whose love and service reflect your light. Bless those who give generously of themselves. May their lives be like well-watered gardens, ever refreshing others. Amen.