DO YOUR CHORES, AND THEN DO SOMEONE ELSE’S CHORES; GOD IS WATCHING
My children are 16 and 13. They have been doing their own laundry since they were 10 and 7. Everyone in the house is pretty particular about their laundry, and when the dryer makes its buzzing sound, whoever is doing their laundry goes and claims the warm armful of cotton and begins folding. Sometimes, however, we all get busy and forget a load in the dryer. My son and daughter do not fold each other’s clothes. If my daughter opens the dryer door and finds her brother’s left-over clothes, she yells, “Jacob, come get your clothes!” and Jacob does the same. I’ve encouraged both of them to just fold it, but I have yet to see it happen.
The other night I was busy making dinner while simultaneously putting meat in freezer bags to store in the freezer. My load of laundry buzzed, and I thought, “Oh man, I’ve got to get those clothes!” I was especially concerned because my husband asked me not to do his laundry if I was going to forget his clothes in the dryer. (They get extremely wrinkled, and he’d rather me leave them dirty.) I understand his concern so I only do his laundry when I know I can get them immediately after the buzz and fold them, wrinkle-free.
The dryer just buzzed. I’m not kidding. I’ll be right back.
I’m back! After washing my hands and getting the potatoes out of the oven, I rushed to get the clothes only to find my son sitting on the floor in the hallway outside of the dryer quietly folding my load of clothes.
“Jacob! You don’t have to fold thus, Bud,” I said.
“I know I don’t HAVE to, Mom, but I thought I’d help you,” He said quietly, not looking up, as he put a folded shirt on top of the stack in front of him.
My heart nearly exploded! I was so touched by his quiet, kind, sacrificial gesture.
He’s a 13-year-old boy, and there he sat, just as quiet as a butterfly and yet looking more and more like a man to me than a young boy. I began thinking about what an amazing husband he will be. My eyes teared up because he was sacrificially helping me without being asked, and he was doing it with such a good attitude!
As I stood there watching my son, God said, “Kristina, I feel the same way about you.” I really teared up after God spoke those words. I was humbly reminded how loving and kind the heart of my Heavenly Father is towards His children. I was also even more motivated to do things that would cause my Father’s heart to overflow in the same way mine did when I saw my son, quietly, sacrificially serving.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. - Gal. 5:13
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her website, https://kristinaseymour.com/. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.
Originally published Tuesday, 28 June 2022.
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