I have been working on preparing the night before and up until Sunday, it was working. Sure, it had only been three days but those three days were an epic success. Then Saturday night-Sunday morning happened. Every now and then, I forget that I’m not as young as I use to be and I decide to pretty much pull an “all-nighter” getting things in order or watching a movie or just hanging with the hubby. It wasn’t until 3am, that I realized I have to get up in less than 4 hours to get ready for a very busy Sunday. Clothes were laid out and everything except…
“Oh my goodness, I forgot to give the kids breakfast!” I yelled, smacking myself on the forehead, as we headed to church. My 2 year old was already at the church for Awana Puggles with my sister-in-law and getting ready for Toddler Worship. I rush into the church, all bags in hand and following my husband to the Toddler room. As soon as I approach, I see my daughter give me this look that broke my heart. You know the look that your children give you when they receive one of their first series of shots? That look they give you right before they let out their painful cry? That look that says, “why are you doing this to me. I trusted you.” Yep, that look! Then the dreaded words come out of a loving and caring adult’s mouth, “ [She] said she’s ‘hungry.’ Did she eat breakfast this morning?” UGH! Right in the gut. CRUSHED!
As they lovingly took care of my daughter, I walked up the stairs to set up for youth ministry. The ladies did not judge me but, they didn’t have to. I already did. “Feed your family first” I kept hearing as I set up the room for the older children to come up. “Feed your family first.” It was so clear and so repetitive, that I had to stop and sit down. I kept the tears in but the guilt I felt wasn’t going away as I saw my daughter’s face over and over again in my head. “Feed your family first.”
After a while, I knew the words were from my loving Savior but the condemnation that set in was not. I slowly got up and reminded myself that this was a lesson that I needed to learn and one that we can all use a reminder. “Feed Your Family First.” Sometimes we get so busy with life and others that we tend to forget to give our family the best of us. I managed to go to the store and get snacks for the youth ministry but did not get my children anything to eat. I didn’t even check to see if my husband was okay in the midst of all the hustle and bustle. (He’s a very timely person and we were really late.) I didn’t even thank him for all his help that morning.
“Feed your family first.” This doesn’t just mean physically. We need to give the best to our family – spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally – instead of giving them the scraps (what’s left of us). As we seek the Lord, feeding ourselves, we should realize that all He has for us to do, He will give us the strength, the time and the ability to do it. BUT we must then “feed our family first” and then other second. Wives, this especially goes for us in the area of “feeding” our husband’s first instead of giving them what’s left of us at the end of the day (and usually we give them sleep). So without going into too much detail, wives, you know what I’m talking about!
So, please remember, in all the hustle and bustle of life and the responsibilities that we know God has given to us, “FEED YOUR FAMILY FIRST!”
“Jesus told her, ‘First I should help my own family…’”
Mark 7:27a
lessons learned from my homeschool day 
Received!
This is very good! I really needed this! As a daycare provider, I am spent at the end of the day and I don’t want to meet another need. But this reminds me not to give my family what’s leftover. Praying for the strength to give them the very best of me, even when I’m physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.
You are definitely not alone. Praying for all of us as we allow God to strengthen our families through our obedience.