"How do we know if we have a servant’s heart? By how we act when we are treated like one!" -unknown
As a mother of 3 (and another one on the way) and a husband who works from home (who leaves messes throughout the house during the day as much as the kids), most days you feel like a servant. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, repair (wo)man, grounds keeper, poo cleaner, and the list goes on.
I've always adored my mother. She has the best servants heart that I've ever seen. She always wants to help, give of herself, to help you and doesn't even think of what she will get in return.
Gloria
She is my hero and why I named my daughter's middle name after her, Luella GLORY
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." -CS Lewis
As a mom, it's so important to realize that you are awesome and just because sometimes you feel like a slave, you are NOT. You are an heiress to the throne. You were given a great responsibility that our culture seems to think is not very glorious. I would do anything for my children, I think most mom's would. Being a mother has taught me so much about God's love.
I would do ANYTHING for these 3 beautiful short people
The King of Kings thought that you were worth so much, that He died for you. He purchased you. YOU are of ultimate value to HIM, the MASTER of the universe. And He came to earth to show you His love, to be nothing for YOU, to serve you.
Not that our mothering can even compare to what Jesus did, like 0.0000000001% of what HE did, we get to do.
SERVE
GIVE
Put ourselves LAST
This is a blessing
I think that most mom's don't like feeling like a servant because they don't see the blessing in it. They feel like they need "me" time and that is what our culture has taught us. But the truth is :
It's NOT about you
And the sooner we realize that, the sooner we can be the most effective, best mother and wife that God wants us to be.
It's like when you go on a diet. And eat really healthy all week, then completely gorge yourself every Saturday. 4,000 calories of cake, chocolate, bacon, pizza and everything you can think of.
By doing that, it completely ruins all the work you did the whole week to eat healthy and you feel like your weight isn't moving... because it's not. With dieting, the most important thing is to change your relationship with food. Treat it as just a fuel to keep you moving and keep you healthy. You can't hate everyday you are eating healthy and just dream about your binge day all week. You will go NOWHERE.
It's the same with being a mother. We need to realize that being a servant is awesome. It's a blessing that we get to have our children, mould them, love them, and SERVE them.... just like Jesus serves us. We can't be dreaming about our "ME TIME" while we are busy going about our motherly duties. We need to be dreaming about how we can serve better, not get out of serving.
This is a message to myself and anyone else who agrees. It is my daily goal... hourly goal.
Matthew 23:11-12
The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
I sometimes catch myself grumbling as I'm putting away the mountains of laundry or mopping the kitchen.
"I wonder what it feels like to always have clean clothes, clean kitchen, food ready at meal time and never worry about where it came from. I bet (Redneck) doesn't even know how to turn on the washing machine" Grumble.. grumble... grumble
Then that small voice says
"Not as good as it feels to get to be with your children all day and make food with groceries from money that YOU didn't personally earn, or wash the clothes with water that you didn't have to leave the house to earn money to pay for."
. . : : END OF GRUMBLE : : . .
There I went thinking about "poor me" when really I should have been praising God for being so blessed. GUILTY.
The Proverbs 31 woman does NOT think of herself
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
VERSE 31 does NOT say
She takes a day to herself, goes to the spa, forgets about her children and husband and just indulges herself because she deserves it.
Our culture wants us to think it does.
It's not about us
