It was a Monday morning.  I was down stairs sipping coffee, when I heard something tumble down the steps. I have four kids, so I’m used to this sound. Then, I heard my wife calling for me. We thought she had only twisted her ankle, but with a trip to the Emergency Room, we found out it was in fact broken. The weeks after this event have been difficult. I had no clue how much my wife did every day – I thought I was a decent servant to my family and I was mistaken. Hear this story about how I learned to serve my family with thankfulness.


It started off focusing on making a whole loafs worth of PB&J’s. Then helping get the laundry started and updating the grocery list and it just never ended. I’d love to tell you it was at this point the Lord showed me the joy of serving my family and I broke out in songs of praise and thanksgiving, but that’s not even close to what happened.

 

I whined and complained every chance I got. I would disguise it as praising my wife for all that she does, but really it was just me whining about not planting my big butt in my favorite chair.

 

One evening, I walked in the house from work and as I sat my stuff down—I walked straight to the laundry room and grabbed the folded laundry to put it away. I knew what I was cooking for dinner and what I needed doing next. As I hung clothes in the closet—it hit me—I was happy serving my wife. As I made lunches the next morning, I did it with joy. Somewhere, in the midst of everything—I stopped whining and started serving—thankfully—with gladness.

A new kind of appreciation

This whole ordeal has helped me appreciate my wife and all she does immensely, but it has also helped her appreciate me. While my family and I are going through a whirlwind at the moment, God is using a broken leg to change my heart from what I thought was a servant’s heart to what it means to truly serve with gratefulness.

 

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:13

 

Dads, I know we work hard and when we come home we are ready to crash and to be adored by our wives and children for our labor, but let’s get real. Most of us give our families second best in our service. I know I did. I’d come home from work, kick my boots off, and plop down on the closest soft surface. This is the opposite of being a godly husband and father.

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Do Work

There used to be a saying I’d hear in the gym a lot, “Do Work!”  They would say it to encourage their buddy to try a little harder, to get that next rep or to get him pumped for the next set. Brothers, Do Work! Push yourself because little eyes are watching. Let them see us serving them with thankfulness and let our wives see our love in action, knowing we are tired from a long day of work. May we seek to serve our families as if serving the Lord. 

 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 4:10-11

 

We must serve our families as we intentionally disciple our families. Serving is at the core. It would be much easier for us to sit and be comfortable, but the rewards for the Kingdom of God when we serve our families, when we teach them His Word and when we are good examples for serving with gladness. God will give you the strength when you need it most.

 

Questions: 

How do your kids see you serve with thankfulness? How are you serving your wife with thankfulness? What is your routine before you go to work and when you get home? What is your attitude when you’re serving? Are you asking yourself “How can I learn to serve my family with thankfulness?”

 

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About the writer > Will King, M. Div.
will-king-150.jpgWill is a doctoral student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary studying leadership. He is the associate pastor of students and men’s ministry at Memorial Baptist Church in Baytown, TX. Married to Lucinda for 13 years, they have four wonderful kids. Learn more about Will here. Grab his Field Guide Common Ground.

 


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