Are We Serving Our Family Leftovers?

September 19, 2012 By

Are we serving our family the best of us, or giving them leftovers–the tired and weary parts? You know what I am talking about? The remnant, the frazzled ends that aren’t so patient and kind.

Sometimes I stay so busy living life without really LIVING life. I stay focused on the tasks at hand without taking time out for the ONE who can control all my tasks. Sometimes I think of ministering OUTSIDE of my home instead of INSIDE my home first.

So I ask myself this question today: Am I giving my leftovers to my kids and family, or are they truly my first priority? My first full-time ministry needs to be my home and all who dwell within, just as Christ makes us His first priority. 

He loves us with an everlasting love.

He loves us even when we fail.

He loves us even when we mess up big time.

But God doesn’t bring us His leftovers.  He extends a hand and gives us His best, all of his beautiful grace and mercy wrapped up in salvation.

Am I extending grace and mercy when my kids disobey?  Am I patient with my husband when he forgets to do something?

My closest loved ones deserve my best, not my weary and tired self.  I am challenged today to give my all, my heart and my life first to the ministry of my family.

This is the way that blessings in our life can flow.  To have the ministry of serving our family is the utmost highest place, for then God can be fruitful in our ministry to others.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9

How about you?  

Do you ever feel things are out of balance?

Need to take time out from serving others to serving your family?

I am here to encourage you wherever you find yourself today.  Maybe you too feel weary and tired from doing good outside your home, and need to pare down and bring yourself back to that place of new priorities. I have been there. I have been so busy that my family was suffering from my good deeds.

Why am I writing this today?  Because I still need to be reminded now and then of where my heart should be, and that serving leftovers to my family just never tastes as good as a fresh offering!

 But Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

May you be blessed as you rest in Him today!

Denise, from Denise In Bloom

…………………

This post is part of the Finding Balance series.

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21 Comments | Filed Under: Family Management, Following God, Homemaking Tagged With:
About Denise

Denise is a wife and homeschooling mom who resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She and her family live a simple and fulfilling life on nine acres in a 100 year old farmhouse. Days are never dull with three boys and a constant home improvement project in the works.
Denise loves Jesus, who has set her heart free to find beauty in the midst of the mundane. As a result of her past experiences, Denise has a passion to encourage moms and women to find their true identity in the Lord. You can find Denise writing at her blog Denise In Bloom

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  • Melinda Gray

    I just recently told my friends…”yeah, you know that whole ‘she works in the home’ part of Proverbs 31??? Yeah, well I’m kinda failing at that right now.” Life has been busy and thankfully much of it is just this season (an anniversary party for my in-laws, CPR instructor re-certifying and training and a short-term mentorship of a gal leaving for the Peace Corps) but I don’t want this to be my normal…where I’m so busy that I’m exhausted and can’t function well for the people I love and minister to the most. Great Post Denise! Love it!

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Yes, Melinda! Well there are seasons of busy that we just can’t always control. Aren’t you glad we have God’s grace to move forward and that he gives us opportunities to redeem time? You are a blessing to many and to me.

  • http://www.servingjoyfully.com/ Crystal

    So true! Thanks for sharing :) I try really hard to keep my schedule cleared, but sometimes things come up, and sometimes my attitude still becomes such that I pour my time and effort into other things–my blog ministry, online relationships (through blogging, etc), and such so that I lose my focus. I definitely do not want to give my family (or God!) my leftovers!

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Oh yes Crystal, blogging is a big one that can be really good and well meaning for me, but yet a distraction at times. Balance is a thing we all work on. Thank you for sharing.

  • Kristen

    Ah, Denise. Exactly what I needed to hear right now! Thanks!! – Kristen, Celebrate Every Day With Me

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Oh that is awesome! We all need it. Have a great day!

  • http://www.facebook.com/ChristianFictionBookClub Melissa K Norris

    This is something so many of us struggle. We put our best face forward in public, when it should be what we show at home. I’m reminding myself to pause when I feel those sharp harsh words on the tip of my tongue. So thankful God forgives us and continues to work on our hearts.

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Amen, so many of us struggle Melissa. Yes God is so full of grace for us and it is a beautiful thing! Thank you for sharing your heart with me!

  • Piper

    Wow! You just don’t know how that speaks to me!! This time of year is hard for me, getting back into school schedule along with all the activities can be daunting. Keeping my priorities in line is the only way that I can make it!! God, husband, children…..then everything else!

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Yes Piper, well when I wrote this – it was for me as well. There are so many “good” things that can take our attention. God will honor your heart that is so ready to serve with the right priorities!

      God Bless You!

  • http://kcbutlersatimetolaugh.blogspot.com/ Dana Butler

    Ahhh… great truth here. Thank you so much, Denise. Sometimes, for me and I think for others, it is easier to minister OUTside the home than INside… because the INside ministry *feels* so thankless….where as the OUTside ministry can more easily attract affirmation and gratitude. But it is in these moments that we’ve got to realize where our TRUE Source of affirmation lies…. To hear His “well-done” over us is all that matters… and if we’re in tune with His whispers to us and hearing that affirmation from Him, we won’t so desperately NEED to look outside of our home for affirmation. This is a good heart-motives check for me… :) Blessings to all you ladies today.

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Yes Amen Dana!!! You said it well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1491306742 Amy Flickinger

    this so spoke to my heart. I felt God tugging at mine because at times they do get what’s left after all the chores are done. I want to make god proud and so from now on I wil be aware if I am giving my firsts or my leftovers. Thanks so much for speaking to my heart

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      Oh Amy we are all on this journey together, and it is a challenge to me to do the same thing. Have blessed day. : )

  • http://www.jenbuckner.com/ Jen Buckner

    Thank you so much for sharing this! Before I even had time to read the whole post, just seeing the titled encouraged me first thing this morning to give my family the best of me and focus on them first today! Thank you!!

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      So glad Jen that it encouraged you to press on! Blessings to you. : )

  • http://www.sonotorganized.com/ Jean

    I struggle with this as I have a tendency to take on too many activities because of that “they need me or they wouldn’t have asked” feeling. This was a nice reminder (that I very much needed to hear today) that my family needs me first! Thanks for such an encouraging post.

    • http://twitter.com/DeniseLThompson Denise In Bloom

      God bless you Jean! I am glad that it encouraged you, and you are so right, that we can take on too much so easily, and feel we are the only person who can do something. Hang in there!

  • Judith

    This is such an excellent point. It is easier to serve the Lord where everyone can see us. We get more praise outside our family than at home, most times. We also give more praise to others outside our family than inside. Yet, the people who we will stay in contact with over the years are our family. I am still in contact with my parents and brothers and sisters. I still have contact with friends I grew up with but it does not have the same quality as family. Thank you so much.

  • Celestine

    I really needed to read this this morning. I’ve been in a balance struggle for quite a time now between work, school, and family. I’m guilty of using up the best of me for school and work and “serving leftovers” to my family. And when I really think about it — and, I mean, really think about it — I would much rather give the best of me to my family. I find the things I speak to my kids or husband about, such as the attitude that Christ wants us to have or the kind of life He wants for us, don’t end up reflected through me to them because I let myself burn out over work and school. So I just want to thank you for writing this for me to find this morning. :) It’s no accident that I came to read it.