Servanthood

This was written by my husband. 

GOD’S WISDOM:
THROUGH THE EYES AND ACTIONS OF A CHILD

It is somewhat humbling to know I have a Bachelor’s degree and am seeking to start my Masters and I am continually schooled by the wisdom of God, through my children. That alone should prove that man’s wisdom comes second to His.
To start my story, I’ll give a brief background. My wife was up all night with my 6 year old because she was sick with a cough and runny nose. My wife is sick with the same cold bug. I come home late at night after working from 8am-midnight and my lovely wife takes care of our daughter, making sure I am taken care of and able to get what sleep I can. Without much sleep and with her normal daily ailments, she has had a pretty crummy day.

Adding to this, I have been really stressed all week with my two jobs and life in general. I sometimes get so absorbed in what I’m doing I don’t look around to realize what others are doing or what they are going through. Today was a classic example of that and how God showed me I should be more aware of those I love.

So I’m going through my daily work routine and end up coming home for lunch at noon. My wife and children have prepared lunch and have just finished. My oldest daughter talks with me in the kitchen and makes sure I get my plate filled. All the while, I’m thinking about my work day, what I have done, what I need to do, and what I should have done better, etc.

After I am finished I take my stuff to the kitchen. And my Heavenly Father wows me by showing me how blessed my wife and I are with a daughter who has one of the strongest hearts of servitude I have ever seen. Her actions are truly humbling!

First, let me say that my daughters do more chores, daily, than most adults do in a week’s time. It’s just how we’ve raised them. And all being under eight, they are still in training somewhat. So when I say they don’t do things perfectly, you will understand what I’m talking about. Examples are their beds not made exactly right, clothes & toys stuffed under the bed, etc.

As a result, when I share with you that my eight year old daughter was in the kitchen, cleaning her heart out so that her mother who is tired and sick doesn’t have to, and doing so like a pro that’s been cleaning for years, you can begin to fathom the depth of the heart of a servant she has. The heart God wants us to have towards one another. Audrey put up the stuff from lunch and wiped down the table. She put a full load of dishes in the dishwasher and got that started. She then proceeded to clean off and disinfect and wipe down all the countertops. She cleaned off our flat-top stove, swept the floor and I have no doubt did it all with a heart of love and level of respect that you rarely find in a child her age. This girl deserves a big hug!

Now I say this with immense pride that my daughter didn’t stop there. She and Abigayle took a bed sheet, laid it out in the front yard and played outside so their mother wouldn’t be bothered by their playing. Oh what a lesson God is teaching us adults! In this little lesson our God taught me and my wife things like, humility, servitude, love, respect, caring for one another and gratitude.

Ya know, it’s already a great story. But I have to tell you, my oldest daughter didn’t stop there either. Knowing it was time for dinner, and that it was going to be a simple dinner like Ramen Noodles and vegetables, she comes in and tells Mandy that she can cook the noodles for supper. Mandy informed Audrey that she was the momma and it was her responsibility to make sure dinner was prepared for the family. Audrey persisted telling her that she knows her mother doesn’t feel good and is tired and that she can take care of dinner for her. Oh what a heart this little one has! Mandy, with the wisdom of a loving and teaching mother, tells Audrey that she can do it if she wants, but that momma was planning on and can still do it. So what does Audrey do? She could have taken the hint and praise she had already earned and went on with a sense of accomplishment. But no, not her, not the daughter of God with a heart towards serving; she walked right into the kitchen, got out the pot and noodles, prepared dinner and served it outside on their special lap trays in the front yard. The girls had a blast and Mandy and I got a lesson that can only be described as truly remarkable. 

My daughter, just recently turned eight, stands at the feet of God, showing me what it means to be a true servant to Him. I was so absorbed in myself and what I needed to accomplish, I hadn’t turned to consider that my Father needed to hear from me. He needed to know I love Him and want to be close to Him. I wasn’t focused on my wife’s needs and her discomfort. All I saw was what I was doing and how I needed to get it done.

Yet we can all take a lesson from this remarkable little girl. Through the heart of a child, God spoke. Through the actions of a truly humble servant, God spoke. Through it all, God showed me just how much we should love one another. My daughter was so in tune with her mother’s needs that she stepped up and became responsible for the household for a brief time to help her mother feel loved, cared for, respected, loved, and gracious. The simple acts of one child taught us both humility and wisdom.

So I ask you now, when was the last time you showed Christ’s love in such a way to another person? When did you last show this kind of love, humility, respect, gratitude, servitude and care for your Heavenly Father???
I ask you now to take just 30 seconds. 30 measly seconds and tell Him how much you love Him. Tell Him how sorry you are that you have not loved with the heart of a child. Tell Him that you will do better. Tell him that you will serve others, love others, show His grace to others, respect others, and care for others, with the very heart He gave you. Look through the eyes of a child and know how God wants you to be. Follow the actions of a child and know how God wants you to act and behave. And through it all, thank Him for His son and the ultimate love offering He made for you and me.
I know this was long, but God bless each and every one of you for taking the time to hear about my moment of clarity and wisdom from our Heavenly Father that was delivered by the actions of a child.