“I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35
Living in a larger family has many unique joys, opportunities, blessings, and lessons. There is always someone to talk to, someone to listen to, someone to work with, someone to play with, someone to learn with, and someone to cook for. When you live with many people day in and day out, the depraved nature of man is also seen in a multiplied sense. Each one of us is born selfish and with the desire to gratify ourselves immediately. Family life is an excellent and God designed institution to teach every member that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.”
Our newest member, little Hope is beginning to learn this lesson too. Even though she has been with us less than a year, it is so important that she learns that she is not a body to be cared for, but a person made in the image of God who was created to work. She has learned to enjoy her little chores of cleaning her tray, throwing trash away, putting dirty clothes in the basket, helping Momma with sticks in the yard, and cleaning up her toys. She can be particular that things are put away just so!
The ability to accept, want, and give nurturing personal love is another area that Hope has had to learn. Dependence on parents is an area that will be a work in progress for quite awhile. On day one in China, Hope was given her first doll and has been encouraged and taught to love baby. She has a few dollies now and they are becoming her favorite toys. It is so sweet to see Hope carry baby around the house as she follows Momma.
Food is one of the hardest areas for us to understand Hope’s background and for her to trust Mom and Dad with. Tears were a normal occurrence at meal time because her expectations were not met. Praise the Lord, there has been some big improvement in the past few weeks! Recently, Mom gave Hope a toy bottle and taught her how to feed baby. To see Hope give her baby food (her previous security and purpose in life) was wonderful!! Does Hope completely understand what she was doing? Probably not. But she is learning that she is not here to be served in every way she desires. She is a person created to serve her Savior and blessed to take part in the dignity of work for His glory.
Hope is not the only one working on selflessness, each one of us is a work in progress. For me, it can be much easier to busy myself with household chores instead of keeping an eye out for relationships I can invest in. Jesus has time for the little children, to create beautiful flowers, birds, and trees for His glory and the enjoyment of His creations. As a follower of Christ, do I have time to patiently help my little brother with his math, listen to my brother talk about his latest invention in the shop, play the harp at a moment’s notice to help my Mom relax, or do the dishes for my tired brother even if I am ready for a break?
Today, what special way can you follow Christ’s example by experiencing the fact that it is “more blessed to give than to receive”?
