At lunch today, one of the younger kids spilled a cup of milk.  Even while I was struggling to control my own response, Caedmon immediately began cleaning up the mess – calmly, thoroughly, cheerfully.  It wasn’t his mess and he wasn’t told to clean it up.

At that moment I found a renewed thankfulness for my husband well up in my heart.  Yes, I was thankful for Caedmon and his servant heart and willing hands…but he’s learned primarily through the example he sees in Tim.  While I regularly flip out over such messes  (I have never quite agreed with the old saying that there’s no use crying over spilled milk) Tim always – always – stops whatever he’s doing and begins to clean it up – calmly, thoroughly, cheerfully.  Even if I start to clean it up, he will often take over for me, simply because he knows that it is a more stressful thing for me than for him.

I’m learning to insist to him that I’m okay dealing with messes when they arise, but I know that it takes restraint for him to let me.  His heart is to serve me, and our children, and really, anyone and in any way that he sees a need.  Serving, for me, is an exercise in bringing my flesh into submission to Christ…I am selfish and lazy by nature, and all too often, that is what comes out when I should choose service.

So I am thankful that I am not the only example my kids get.  I’m thankful that my husband is so faithful to lay down his life for me.  I’m thankful that Caedmon has figured out the better response to emulate.