Shifting Winds

Lectio Divina out loud: Through serving loved ones, Erika Dix feels a shift in the direction of her calling to serve more and in unexpected ways.

Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)

During this season of my life, I have been feeling the winds shift. They had been blowing consistently in one direction for what seemed like a long time. My directional focus has been on taking care of the needs of my family, specifically on my kids and husband. Now that I am getting close to the empty-nest stage, that wind is starting to blow in a different direction, one that is focused on my aging parents. I know I am blessed to still have all of them in my life, so this has been both welcoming and nostalgic.  

Anticipate One Another 

In trying to discern this shift in my focus, I realized that it continues to be just a simple calling from Jesus. He says many times throughout the Gospels, that serving others is the will of God and is most pleasing to Him. Jesus even shares what His own calling from God is in the Gospel of Mark:  

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Since serving others is the will of God, then it is only fitting that serving is the wind I feel blowing in my life. At times it is a calm wind, nudging me and giving me courage. At other times it is a gale-force wind, pulling me toward a situation that needs my immediate attention to help a loved one. No matter what, it is consistent and comforting to know that I am following the will of God.   

Mutual Affection 

For my children and my aging parents, I have the same amount of love to give. I am honoring my kids by giving them the wings to fly on their own. I am honoring my parents by giving them respect and gratitude for having raised me in their love and affection. In praying about this, I was wondering: What do my kids and parents need from me? They need connection, love, respect, guidance, patience, and time. I realized that these are already gifts I am freely giving, so shifting the focus from my kids to my parents will still be coming from the same place in my heart.   

My kids may be leaving, but a lot of my serving of them will not stop, it will just look different, since it will be over FaceTime and texting, or even Amazon shipments. My parents might need me more, but it will look different too, and I am grateful that they need me since I would like to spend more time with them while I still have them in my life. They were such a big part of my life when I was younger, so even though it is a different season, it feels like coming home.   

Showing Honor 

There may be a new direction to the wind, but it is still about serving and loving others. Jesus calls us to be like Him, not to be served, but to serve. And this calling comes from a place of love and honor, something way above ourselves and our needs. I put trust in the feeling that while I am serving others, Jesus is serving me and my needs, so that I am well taken care of. The winds support and carry me through every season and with every person I love, no matter which direction they are blowing.   

Prayer:

Thank You, Jesus, for Your support and example of serving others. Thank You for serving me while I serve my loved ones, and for showing me the direction of God’s will in my life.  

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Copyright 2025 Erika Dix
Images: Canva