Emotional Resilience: Service #Week3Day5

Hello Friends!

It happened again...I really didn't feel like I did any service yesterday. I picked up my grandkids from daycare and I took a daughter to a doctor appointment. Maybe I did other things, but my kids are older. My youngest is 16. I just don't feel like I serve as much as I did when my kids were younger. 

I realized today that those times when I was intentional about my service it was better. When I pray and ask who I can lift and bless that day and then take time to ponder it really helps me to feel like I am actually serving and doing the Lord's will. Yes, the other things that I do daily are service, but at this time in my life I don't do a lot of daily service for my family. Or, at least, it doesn't seem like it. 

Actually, now that I think about it, there are many things that I do just not daily. For example, doing laundry. I not only wash my clothes, but I do my husband's laundry as well. My kids are all old enough to do their own. However, I have helped them with their laundry on occasion. Making meals, cleaning up, and the other things that I mentioned in another post are services that I provide on a consistent basis. 

Service = Love

For now, I know that what will help me the  most is to be intentional about my service each day. Some of you, or even most of you, are most likely serving daily with your current circumstances. For me, I feel like I need to be more intentional to make service - or to me, it's really showing my love for others which often entails getting out of my comfort zone - a daily ritual...a part of my everyday life.  

An ah-ha

Actually, about making meals, I'm thinking that perhaps I need to be more prayerful with how much I am making dinners...which isn't that many days a week...and pray to know God's will about having more of  my children help with dinners. We used to do that - rotate who was in charge of making dinner. When kids get older and they have jobs that have them working many nights during the week it is difficult to have a schedule. I see that I might be doing a disservice to them by not having them help more. 

Well, thank you for going on that tangent with me. That thought, that just came as I was typing this post, helps me realize a different way to serve that I might not have really recognized before...serving others by helping them learn new skills or to practice skills they already know. If I was to do all the cleaning and cooking and laundry around here my kids would leave the house without those skills that they will need when they get out on their own plus, learning hard work, responsibility, working even when they don't feel like it because others are counting on them, etc. 

Are there ways that you are serving by helping others learn or practice a skill? Toddlers can learn new skills all the time...tying their shoes, brushing their teeth on their own, getting dressed by themselves. I know often times, even with having older children, I sometimes put away their things because it is easier. Am I doing a disservice by not allowing them to take responsibility for their things? 

Well, that was a lot of food for thought. I would love to know what you think!