Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Seeing beyond the dishes.

Scripture verses that caught my attention today: Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Observation: Sometimes we need a little provoking.

Application: Dishes. We’ve got a few of them in the kitchen…dirty ones that merely need to be put in the dishwasher (once the dishwasher is emptied). Six days a week this task is a responsibility shared among our three kids. They even receive a small commission for said work—a way for them to earn a small amount of cash for spending.

At least that's the theory. In reality it doesn’t always go so well. Sometimes I spend so much effort prodding them to get the job done that it would have been easier to just do it myself. I’m still trying to figure out how best to “provoke” them to one of the relatively simple “good deeds” I appreciate most—a relatively clean kitchen counter!

In their defense, they do have some very full days--not getting home till late at night and still having homework to do as well. So part of the issue is simply scheduling.

But the other part of the equation is motivation. How does one motivate people to do that which they are otherwise not so inclined to want to do?

The author of Hebrews suggests time together and encouragement. The author also suggests keeping things in perspective as we see the day is approaching.

One of the days I see approaching is the day when our kids are grown up and gone. I realize that that day is not nearly as important as the day of which the author of Hebrews writes, but it nevertheless is coming soon. Our senior will head off to college this summer. The other two aren’t far behind. What then? Doing our own dishes will be the least of my worries. By then I’d probably gladly accept a dirty dish on the counter if it signified a son or daughter’s presence.

Prayer: Lord, as your day approaches help us to treasure our days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Hebrews 9-11)

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