Devotion to Others

Women of our day get many conflicting messages. Media messages tell us about women that have it all. Working mothers with glamorous lifestyles, jet setting off to foreign countries to have babies and then one month later are a size four and back in their former working roles, with their adorably dressed tyke and nanny in tow. Their hair and nails are perfectly manicured and $2,000 jeans fitting better than what even photo shop could ever do for us.

There are seriously days I can’t wear flip flops because I haven’t even had a chance to clip my toenails, much less paint and perfect them. In fact, if you see my toe nails done at all it is because my mom treated me to a pedicure, which required six months of planning. Look out for the needs of others? I can barely get myself and my children bathed!

The commercials and professionals tell us we are worth it and if our needs haven’t been met we can’t provide for anyone else. We need “us” time they say Then on the other hand we also hear about a different perspective. We are told to care for others before ourselves and be a martyr for our children and husbands.

Don’t we all secretly strive to be that Proverbs 31 woman? I know I do. I have my lazy days where getting up before dawn to prepare meals, go trade stuff at the market and along with a host of other things that woman has perfected are just ain’t happening. In fact, there are days when I can barely get myself up an hour late, rush to gather my flock of children, dress them to at least the standards where no one will stare,(except for their faces- something’s are just too much) remembering lunches and book bags and my Bible for Bible study later that morning, and get my non-showered and greasy-haired self out the door just in time to arrive as the last few cars sneak into the carpool line with a tardy notice.

Really people, there are mornings I have to run back into the house for Poptarts or waffles because I realized as we were pulling out that I actually forgot to feed them. I kid you not, I think I count my children at least twice in the car just to make sure they are all there, out of fear that in a rush I might forget one of them. Plus, I am not the most competent mathematician, so it is good for me to always do a re-count.

What do we believe? Of course we must take some time to nurture and care for ourselves, but I am going to give you my prayerful perspective as to what a middle ground in these two worlds may be.

I agree with both. I think you do have to care for yourself before the needs of others and I also agree that you should put the needs of others before yourself. How can I agree with both of these conflicting statements? Because I know God and when you know God “need” takes on a new meaning as we realize a lot of those “needs” are actually wants.

I know that God is my caregiver and that when my heart is right with him I am fulfilled, with all my needs being making me full and capable of giving to others. Now In this season of my life my toenails may not be perfect, my outfit might be faded and last season with spit up on it. I may look hurried and my kids very likely will still have some remnant of breakfast on their faces, (keeping handi-wipes in the car helps a lot with this). But as long as I remembered that Bible and made time to actually read it and have time with my Lord, in true sincere prayer, he will provide and equip me, giving me just what I need to be able to reach out to others.

Maybe at this season of my life I don’t have as much to offer as those whose children are all in school, or whose children are grown, but those phases bring their own sets of challenges too. Just like the woman who gave all her coins when others only gave a small percent of what they have, God knows if we are giving what we really can. If we he have first spent our time with him and have prayed for his guidance over our lives and schedules we can with confidence take heart in our devotion to others.

We can always busy ourselves to a place where we can claim we have no more room, but God is asking us to delegate better, choose what really matters and give up some of the things that are giving us that immediate payoff(TV, Internet, vanity) and invest in things that have a kingdom payoff.

Challenge- If you find that you are overwhelmed, but yet you know you are not where you want to be doing God’s work. If you are saying you can’t squeeze one more thing in your life and you don’t know where to start, then spend some time with God, then ask him to take control over your schedule and your heart and help you find a way to make you more effective for him daily, which begins with you relationship with him.

If he fills you up first you will have everything you need to take care of you, as well as the time, desire, and perspective to devote to others. Lord knows if I got up early enough to have my time with God before the day begins(I’m a night owl) then we would have a lot less tardy notices.

Sweet Blessings,

Laurie