Tuesday, March 9, 2010

A servant's heart

I sat their eggs in front of them and then ran to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and attempt to wipe away the mascara from the day before that was smeared under my eyes making me resemble a raccoon. If I can attempt to accomplish nothing else in the morning, masking the dark circles under my eyes is essential to pretending I am not as disorganized as I actually am. While staring in the mirror I heard Caroline in the other room say "I will help you". I stopped what I was doing and walked back to the kitchen. I watched for several minutes taking the moment in. She had pulled her chair over to her brother's high chair and was feeding him his breakfast. Such a simple thing, it didn't require much. It didn't require money or planning. It didn't require a shower or make up. It just required a kind heart; a quiet, simple moment of service, of kindness, of love...a moment that only a servant's heart can produce.


My presence was unnoticed for about 2 minutes, but then Thomas spotted me and started laughing. He was laughing because he could tell something fun was happening. He was excited to be being fed and he was joyfully accepting the moment. Caroline turned to me and said "He was shoving it in his mouth so I told him I would help him". I smiled and sat down next to them and took a few more pictures. She was proud.


I am always surprised that in moments like these God reveals himself so strongly. We look for it in the big moments, we expect it there. And certainly he is present for those big, culminating times in life like when you have a baby or when you get married. But the older I get and the calmer I give my heart permission to be, I see Him more and more in the simpler moments. It speaks much of His character, does it not? I remember watching my grandfather feed my grandmother before she died. She couldn't do it anymore and he sat so content across from her wheel chair feeding her. What a moment, what a gift, what a privilege it is that God allows us to care for his children.
I tend to wake up each morning with my lists and my busy work and then wonder why at the end of the day I am so tired. I think my heart would do well to accept the small gifts that have been handed to me for today, and to live them with a still and less anxious heart. For today is the day that the Lord has made, the time is now to receive His gifts, the time is now to give him thanks, the day is today to be still and know that He is God.

Amy

I am linking up with Emily today over at Chatting at the Sky to unwrap the simple gifts.

24 comments:

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Lovely post today! So so recognizable!! Your daughter is very beautiful!
Have a wonderful day!

Andrea @ The Dawley Fam said...

Amen sister! I love your blog and your children are so stinkin' cute!

Bonnie @ House of Grace said...

Thanks for stopping by today!! I really like your blog and I am going to be a follower. I also have three children and an engineer for a husband!
Bonnie

ntignor said...

Aren't those times the best. You are all so great!!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

It is definitely those little things in life that can tug at our heart strings, Amy! I remember my daughter doing things like this with and for my son {her baby brother}. They grew up very close and still are ~ they are 19 and 23 now.

sara said...

Such a lovely post, your little girl sounds like a sweetheart and she was rightfully proud of herself. So glad you got to witness that, thanks for sharing!

The Starr Family said...

He is God indeed, what sweet reminders He gives us! Those little moments are like high fives from the Lord, tiny blessings in a crazy world!

southerninspiration said...

Awwww.....how darling. That WAS a good reminder today of serving.....both are just so cute!

Suzanne

Anonymous said...

Very sweet...

Traci Michele said...

Awesome awesome post Amy! I loved this:

I am always surprised that in moments like these God reveals himself so strongly. We look for it in the big moments, we expect it there.

Seeing God in the little things... that's when His character is revealed to me the strongest... powerful, just powerful!

I love when My 3 1/2 year old daughter feeds my 1 year old. They are watching us, as mothers... may we be those godly mothers that we wish our little ones to grow up to be!

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Thanks be to God that you left the room to clean up your racoon eyes! That freed your sweet children up to help each other. Precious pics of both of them! Thanks so much for such a tender post today!

Big Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Wendy said...

What a wonderful moment captured....simple but wonderful. I too, live for moments like these. You have an easy way with words.

Corinne Cunningham said...

I'm blown away by the tenderness :) Such a lovely gift to unwrap today!

Jemsmom said...

Thanks for that. I have been forgetting to see those moments lately. Great reminder and priceless pictures!

Isaac's Family said...

She is precious!

Jocelyn said...

That is soooo sweet! Your kids are very adorable!

Tammy@Fear Not said...

I love the picture where she was the fork in hand and smile full of laughter. Receiving from a servant's heart is like receiving from Christ Himself.

Kare said...

Thanks for sharing such a precious moment with us Amy. It's a nice reminder to stop and treasure His presence in truly sweet moments such as this. The pictures are adorable!

Kathysue said...

Amy, It is in the simplest of things we can see Gods greatness. Good for you to take the time to notice. It is all around us. For some reason we think the time we are given each day is ours and it was all given to us by God. I try to start out each day with giving it to him and then it seems as if my priorities become very logical and the day flows along nicely. It truly is all about focus. When we focus on him everything looks different. Have a wonderful day. I think you learned a very important lesson and thank you for sharing it with all of us,Kathysue

Carla said...

Ok, I'm crying. That is just the sweetest thing ever! I think the reason it's so touching to me is that my kids are all growing up so fast! I had 2 graduate from high school last year and my youngest is in the 2nd grade. It just seems I just can't stop the time. I remember those days that went by in a fog, trying to make it from one chaotic day to another. Now, most of the time, things are calm at my house. Theres no baths to help with or kids in high chairs to feed! I never thought when I was going through it that it would be sad when it was over, but it is. So thank you for sharing that wonderful moment with all of us! I am new to your blog and I enjoy it immensely!!! Your house is absoultely gorgeous and so are you and your family. Thanks again and keep enjoying those sweet moments!

Charity said...

Oh that is so sweet, I try hard to catch these moments and savor them.

This morning My oldest was reading to my youngest while she took a bath, it so touched my heart.

Cha Cha

Scooper said...

What a precious, precious story. There are so many gifts to behold each and every day as we raise our little ones. You're right, it just takes some slowing down and noticing.

Jenny said...

What a gift, to have captured the moment; first with your heart, then with your camera. Blessings

Melissa_Rae said...

So sweet! Your children are beautiful. :)

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