Way # 6 of Our 24 Family Ways
"We serve one another, humbly thinking of the needs of others first."
Memory verse
"And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all, 'For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many."
Mark 10:44o-45
It is a habit of life for me to bake loaves of whole-wheat bread. It was just one of the ways I served my children over the years, and one I continue as often as possible today. Now, the smell of baking bread reminds my children of home even when they are thousands of miles away.
Serving doesn’t come naturally to anyone, and it was a surprise to me when I had children and realized how constant their needs to eat, sleep in clean sheets and wear clean clothes would be—and I was the one who had to make everything happen! So I decided to make sure my children were more prepared than I’d felt to serve their own families one day.
Mamas serve their children in a million big ways and tiny ways over and over again. The smell of coffee brewing and warm cinnamon bread coming out of the oven was one of the ways I would bribe my children to crawl out of bed on Sunday mornings. When they grew older and previously predictable schedules weren’t predictable anymore, Sunday morning feasts were my way of gathering us to catch up.
Some time ago, after a very tiring but fun week with Joy home from college, I planned to arise to make breakfast before we took her to the airport to fly back to school. Much to my surprise, when I came downstairs I found the table was set and a pot of fresh tea was steeping. She had planned to bring it up to me in bed, and French toast from my homemade bread was sizzling and browning on our skillet.
I was deeply grateful. Even more, though, it has been fun for me to see my children serve each other as a part of their own inner integrity -- a grid that they have owned that they are people who God has called to serve and meet the needs of others. What a treat to be served by my own sweet Joy!
If a child grows up serving, it will become natural to them. Making " I love you" cards, plates of cookies for neighbors, making a special sick tray when a child was in bed, and serving meals at the homeless shelter helped our children to learn to give time and effort to ease someone else's life.
Occasionally grumbling, or dragging their feet accompanied the training exercise of serving others. None of us are naturally unselfish. But serving often created a positive sense of self-worth in our children, as adults would thank them or people would be pleased with their efforts.
Jesus called his disciples to serve along beside him and in this practice, they began to perceive themselves as leaders.
This week, engage your family and even young children in thinking how they might help or serve someone in need. You will probably be surprised at how much they will enjoy being a part of something that makes them feel rather important. The earlier you start, the better, as it will become a part of the fabric of their lives!
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