It's Thursday, time for the fruits of the spirit! It's August, so I'm talking about love. In week one I explored what love is, in week two I witnessed God's love first hand and am incredibly grateful!Since I know how great it feels to be the recipient of love-real love with no strings attached-I've been praying on how I can better demonstrate my love to my family. Because, honestly, I haven't been doing a very good job of it lately.
I've been caught up in my own "When are you going to answer me?" drama that I let the love slide. I put myself, my needs and wants on a pedestal, and it should be the other way around.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
I have found that when I concentrate on my own wants, I get sucked into a downward spiral of disappointment and desperation because "it" is never enough. But when I walk with a servant's heart, I am blessed beyond measure, my heart is peaceful and my mind is calm.
So I've wondered. What can I do to bless my family? How can I focus on Him rather than me?
There are little everyday things I do for my kids, like hugs, saying I love you, listening when they talk and saying thank you when they help out.
And for my husband, quick chats on the phone, setting his clothes out for him the night before, making sure he has coffee in the morning and thanking him for working so hard for our family.
But I want to kick it up a notch and be that loving wife and mother I dream of being. I need some suggestions. How do you bless your family, how do you show them God's love?
I dont have suggestions but looking forward to reading the comments.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord has been convicting me of the very same thing as reflected in my last post. Right now I have been seeking the Lord in how He would have me better bless my family outside of the daily things I do (sometimes on auto-drive,and without much thought!)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Here are a couple practical ways I show love:
ReplyDeleteFood: I show my love often with wholesome food. I make a special breakfast on Fridays during the school year. And we have special traditional foods at certain holidays.
Laundry: I still fold all of my family's laundry. I have taught them how to fold, but I decided long ago that I wanted to bless my family by that always being my "job". Even the big boys.
Dates: I plan to take each of them on a date, just that kid and I, on a regular basis. Now, that might mean twice a year. But it is special time I set aside just to be with that kid.
I can always use alot more ideas too!
Feeling low on suggestions, seeing as I need to increase in this area as well!
ReplyDeleteReally good post.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I would emphasise is what I've found myself: the biggest change in others always comes when I've made the biggest change to 'me'. And that change is almost always 'inside'....then 'outside'. For example, I have to b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Stop. Tell myself to 'chill' because being stressed is one of the things that make others suffer. So - 'chill' and begin to enjoy...enjoy life; enjoy home; enjoy hubby and family. enjoy God's word. Sometimes you feel like you're too stressed and too overburdened to manage it - to be able to begin enjoying and chilling and relaxing. But it is possible - you can really make yourself do it. Change attitude. And it's amazing the impact it has on everyone around.
Hope this makes sense, cos I don't really have time to proof it!
Love, Anne x
I've been thinking along the same lines. Not sure that I have any suggestions...but I was feeling overwhelmed with all the "stuff" I HAVE to do yesterday. Then I realized that one way I could help my wonderful husband out (and show love) was to mow the lawn for him, because he has a whole lot of "stuff" to do too and some of that was due this morning. So I showed preference to him and helped him with something that was needing to be done, more than the things on my list.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so with you. I think my problem is that even if I give time, I'm not giving my full attention. I need to focus better, to be there with my family in mind and heart as well as in body.
ReplyDelete