“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”~Matthew 10:42 NLT
Sweet mom, it’s as though I can feel your weary heart right now. I understand how utterly tiring and thankless mothering can seem! We daily facilitate and tend to the many needs of our family. Parenting continually pushes and pulls energy from us, yet somehow we manage to keep all the plates spinning. We tirelessly expect ourselves to hand out a smorgasbord of tasty dishes, trying so hard to meet the wants and wishes of every member of our family.
Do you feel unnoticed and unappreciated in all of your serving and giving? Oh, friend, I can assure you, you’re not alone. Many a mom surely identifies with you—however, let me encourage you! Weary mama, it is not as it feels and seems: you ARE deeply seen and heard!
Let me explain.
I realized how wrong my mentality was (about no one taking notice) one evening while I was worshiping and praying at church. In my spirit, I saw myself kneel down in front of Jesus to tenderly wash His feet. What I saw changed my perspective: love flowed out of Him, filling me up, and then came out of me and returned back into Him (a reciprocating love). While we were communing in this way, I heard Him say, “When you serve others, you are actually washing my feet and deeply ministering to me.” It opened my eyes to see a much larger picture in my serving—that Jesus greatly feels my love with every cup of water I offer in His name, just like He says in His Word. “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (Matthew 10:42 NLT).
It profoundly changed the way I felt about serving when I understood Jesus sees each act of service. It’s true, as we lovingly serve our families, He notices every single little detail! Let this warm your weary heart—it is enough! Every kind thing we do in His name is not only felt but deeply appreciated and will someday be rewarded. When we minister to our children and our husbands, it’s like we’re doing it for Him!
Blessings,
Mari Jo Mast
Pray with Me:
“Dear Jesus, please open my eyes to see when I serve my family, I’m actually ministering to You. Show me the importance of my beautiful offering to my husband and children. Help me not to get weary in my own effort and well-doing, but remind me every day that You experience what my family feels as I love and serve them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
Have a Talk with God:
Lord, What do you want to tell me about the way I serve my family? What easy reminders can I put in place to remember or stay aware that I’m ministering to Jesus as I serve my family (e.g. sticky notes written to myself and placed in random areas, reminders in my phone). How will this affect or change my view on serving? What simple things can I do to show my family love this week?
Mari Jo encountered God’s unconditional love and grace in the year 2000, which radically freed her from the bondage of legalism and exhausting performance. She desires to faithfully obey and purely reflect the character of Jesus in her life and longs for readers to encounter the Presence of Holy Spirit in her writing.
- You’ve Got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in Your Heart! - April 19, 2024
- Jesus, Teach Me Day 5: Parenting with Grace - April 6, 2024
- Jesus, Teach Me Day 6: A Peaceful Home - April 6, 2024