If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
~John 13:14-15
This Scripture has graced our bathroom wall for years, but it wasn’t until I was reading our devotional to the kids yesterday morning that I felt the full impact of this verse and my own sinful selfishness.
How often throughout the course of a day do I wish someone would just help me rather than making extra work for me?
How often do I mutter under my breath when my husband asks me to do something I don’t think I have time for?
How often do I quietly (or not so quietly) complain about my workload?
How often do I crave a foot massage, a back rub, and few seconds of quiet?
We cannot count the hours of the day by how much someone helped us, or how many hands made our work lighter. We must count the hours of our day by how much we helped someone else and how our hands made other’s work lighter. We must learn to find joy in the serving and contentment in the servant’s heart. A Me-First attitude will always leave us wanting more and steal our focus away from the things that truly matter.
Why won’t somebody help me?
Because I’m too busy helping myself.
Weekends in the Word is a ministry of Raising Arrows meant to offer a time of worship and encouragement specifically for those mommies who find themselves, due to circumstances beyond their control, unable to attend worship services with other believers. However, all are welcome here each weekend to feast on His Word.
Honey says
Great comments! THanks so much.
Ellie says
Amy, I’ve just started reading your blog…mostly since we JUST NOW got a computer! I’ve been really encouraged by it and todays was so convicting! As I read it the thought of what I said to my husband last night as it was 9:30 and the kids still weren’t in bed came to mind…”Would you PLEASE help me out here?!?” I have so far to go in dying to myself. Also, about your “Blogging for God” post… remeber those like me, busy with life and at home…all the time! It’s so encouraging to be reminded of others in the same phase, that I’m not alone in this and God has asked a lot of women to live this way- so it must be possible!
Amy says
I think you and I must have been having the same thoughts last night! I think this is a common struggle for mommies. 😉
Heather says
I’ve been mumbling that mantra – why wont someone help me – for months now – thank you for shedding light on this for me!
I’ll be praying about this all week – thanks!
-Heather
Teresa says
With two under three and five total, plus a new puppy, I have been saying this way to much lately. Thank you for the reminder. Often it is not that no one will help, but that they simply don’t know what I want done.
More communication is needed on my part. I guess that is another reason to list chores for the children. I only have to simply remind them to do there lists and not have to tell and retell them what to do.
Amy says
Oh, the new puppy! Definitely stressful! And you are right…sometimes we are too busy brewing and stewing to actually calmly make our needs known.
ShineliketheSon says
Amy, I just wrote a post that ties in so nicely with yours I linked yours up to mine! (see my website) I love the verse and needed to see that one as well as Matthew 6:19-21. Thank you for your honest, uplifting words!
Amy says
Lovely thoughts! It does go perfectly 🙂
Rhoda says
Ouch–guilty! Servant hearts have been a topic lately in our house. (“Are you trying to make me your servant?” has been heard many a time.) Maybe there is a problem grasping that concept because I’m not showing it rightly. Thank you for bringing this area of MY life to light.
Amy says
I’ve found that it is usually my attitude that bleeds over into my children’s attitudes. Sadly.
Christabelle says
I needed this! Thank you for sharing.
Tanya Miller says
I needed this I thank God for using you ass a tool to get to me…
Ann says
I think I notice all the help because I fought it for so long…but when you have a child with a disability, you realize you can’t do it alone, and you notice every bit of help, and every blessing that comes your way. I almost feel guilty for all the help I get!
Amy says
What a blessing that people are there to help you. I’ve heard so many stories of women going it alone. I am sure you feel utterly overflowing with gratefulness (I know I did when my daughter died and there were so many people there to care for us in our time of need.)
Rebecca says
Oh ouch!! You just stepped on my toes majorly. 🙂 So often I wonder why everyone in our house has an unwilling attitude, and it all stems back to MY lack of a servant heart. Thanks for blessing my heart today.
leah b says
I have a 4 yr old and a 8 week old who loves to be held. I love it all too but sometimes its overwhelming when he is ready to eat and i need to start dinner and 4 year old DS wants a snack, etc. But then i realize that there will come a day where i will wish i had them under my feet again. They grow up so quickly.
Amy says
They do! But when you are in the thick of it you really need encouragement to keep going and doing your job to the fullest!
Meg Isaacs says
Thank you… I very much needed this today. Praise the Lord!
Kimberly Dawn Rempel says
woo! You’re not kidding around! This is a serious challenge – to measure my day by how I’ve helped others. … to change from me-focused to others-focused, not just in occasional acts, but in my heart posture. Amen!
Valerie says
Amazing how timely this word is for me. Our pastor preached this morning about the common Christian’s spirit or attitude of entitlement in his series, Overflowing with Gratitude.
Just yesterday I was crying out to God to help me with my attitude and problem with complaining (I’m nauseous/tired/overwhelmed, you name it!) I was led to read Jonah and of course Job.
Why in the world do I feel the right to question Him? Keep up your words of truth, Amy, they are ministering to us! And of course, you must let me quote the last paragraph of this one! 🙂
Corine says
That’s a tough one. We need to love ourselves and take care of ourselves, but love and care for others, too… to love others as Christ loves us.
I remember hearing it said that a happy person is one who remembers what his friends have done for him, but forgets what he has done for his friends. I suppose he is too busy being focusing on others and being thankful for what others do for him to think about what he/she does for others.
Thanks for the reminder on selflessness. 🙂
Corine
Wendy Gunn says
And make us bitter.
There are (at least) 2 kinds of women: those who won’t accept help and want to do it all alone, and those who want help all the time, and can tend to delegate everything, and get overwhelmed easily. (I am the latter.) But, well, we all get overwhelmed! Even Jesus got so tired that He fell asleep in the back of a boat! I recently was super overwhelmed and wrote “When You Are Overwhelmed”–
(http://www.wendygunn.net/2011/06/when-you-are-overwhelmed/)–I don’t like being overwhelmed, but the Lord uses those times to teach me deep lessons.
Thanks for the great teaching, and reminder.
Blessings,
Wendy
Amy says
Thanks for sharing, Wendy! I too am one who gets overwhelmed easily and have to keep seeking the Lord’s face to keep my facing the right direction.
Suanna says
Thanks for the thoughts. I recently came to the same realization that it’s my selfishness that leads to my struggling with “Why do I have to do it all” even when there are people who are doing plenty that I should be thankful for.