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.

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