Daddy's Servant

As I am cleaning up after dinner, my daughter looks at me and says so very sweetly, "mommy you're a servant." I just looked at her stunned. I wasn't quite sure what she meant. After all that's an odd thing to say for a six year old. I asked her what she meant by that statement and she says with a beautiful smile on her face, "you're daddy's servant".

I thought about what she said for days. I have to admit I didn't like it. I felt it a blow to my self-worth. Do I want to be considered a servant? Is that what my daughter thinks of me when I am trying to be a good wife and mother by cleaning the house and putting dinner on the table. My flesh resisted this statement as fact and yet my spirit within me questioned my dislike of it.

Finally I asked God what my problem is with her statement after all I am proud to be called God's servant. I have a longing in my heart to accomplish things for God and His Kingdom. I look forward to the day God says to me, "Well done good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21) Is it my pride that rebels against this word, servant? Cleanse me, Lord.

As I further examined my heart I realized that what bothered me most was being called my husband's servant. I felt an aversion to being considered my husband's servant rather than God's. But isn't that what I am when I am serving others? I am serving them as a greater service to God. Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...and became obedient to death" (Philippians 2:7-8). If Jesus can take on the nature of a servant, couldn't I?

I might not be covered in black with a white apron wrapped around my waist and a cap on my head but taking on the role of servant is exactly what God has asked me to do. I am encouraged in God's Word as I read, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does" (Ephesians 6:7).

After taking a serious look at my heart, I felt it no longer beneath me to take on the title of servant in my home but rather grateful. Grateful to have the privilege to serve my husband and family. And as I made peace in my heart over being "daddy's servant", I spoke of it to my husband. It was then at dinner another night, my husband took it on himself to tell my daughter what my place is in our family. He said, "your mom is not my servant, but my helper and best friend and I could not do anything without her."

"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26

Blessings,
Lisa