Wordfull Wednesday - Service for Others

Service for others - Are there certain ways your family serves those around you? How do you teach your children to look beyond themselves to serve others? "Parents have a sacred duty to teach [their children] to love and serve one another" (Family Proclamation, paragraph 6) -from Chocolate on my Cranium

Service is something I think about regularly, but have a hard time actually DOING. "Service" usually brings to my mind projects like planting your neighbors garden, baking cookies to give away, doing laundry for a sick and/or tired friend. You know,  all those big and wonderful, things that I just can't do but still feel guilty for not doing them. However, my view of what service is has been evolving.

It has taken me awhile to realize that taking care of my own children really is a great service. Sometimes, as I changed diapers, I would fantasize about doing a "more beautiful" service, such as those mentioned above. Something where people could really see me in action and know how good I was. Oh no, I'm not prideful....

With over two years of diaper changing (and other things) under my belt a more subtle and real meaning of service is being cemented into my brain. First of all there really is a time and season to everything. Those 'grand' service projects will have to wait a few more years. Right now I'm a little busy with the every day nurture of motherhood. I am really beginning to see how small acts of service, cleaning hands, kissing cheeks, playing pretend, can make a huge difference. I am so grateful to be learning these lessons so I can pass them on to my children as they grow and develop. Even now, I am surprised by how much my little boy picks up from my example. He loves to help clean up (sometimes), he is gentle with his sister (most of the time), he watches what I do (all the time).