Not To Be Served, But To Serve...

Happy Mother's Day 2011 to all you wonderful moms out there!  I hope that each of you were blessed today and that you had an opportunity to reflect on the amazing gift of being a mother.

This title, Not to be Served, but to Serve, is what was written on the marquis of my dad's church when I was growing up in Austin.  Somehow, even as a young girl these words seemed to resonate with me.  They still do today.  There have been several occasions when I thought I might blog using this title, but it didn't really seem to fit until the pieces finally came together today.  Our pastor gave a sermon today that allowed me to complete the puzzle, so to speak.  He gave us 3 points to think about as followers of Christ, and spoke directly to the moms in the congregation.  In doing so, I recalled the words not to be served, but to serve and easily applied them to each of his 3 points.  These are listed below, with some of my own commentary....

1. Live before your children a life that becomes the Gospel.  From this I took away that as a mom, my purpose is not to be served by my children, but to serve them.  I mean this loosely...not that I am there to wait on them hand and foot, not that I am to lose who I am so that I can be everything to them, and not that I forget about parenting and disciplining and teaching, but that I am to show them the way.  I am to serve them, by serving as He would.)
2. Lift up Christ with your life.  Only one King can be served...who is it for your life? (As a follower of Christ I am here not to be served by Him, but to serve Him...1st.  This one really makes me take a look at myself and reflect on how well I am doing.  Have I made Him 1st?  And if I say I have, do I live that?  Then there is the accountability I have for my children.  Am I teaching them to do the same, to put Him 1st?  Am I an example of what to do, or perhaps, what not to do?)
3. Shine light on Christ with your life.  In Him, through Him and with Him, be a light unto others and myself, such that through me, others see Him....Not for my glory, but for His.  All Glory, Laud and Honor, to you Redeemer King.  I love the words to that hymn...now if I can just be sure to always and in all ways put those words into action.

Deep thougths on this Mother's Day, but happy, blessed and thankful ones as well. 

Blessings!