M&Ms from Mexico

Chores.  Has anyone in the world ever come up with a way to train kids to want to do more than just their share?  I mean, not just do the chores, but do them willingly, cheerfully, and on their own initiative?  To notice when others are unavailable or unable to do their share, and to do their jobs, too?

I confess that I have failed.  Mine still mostly do what they are told (eventually), and often they even do it willingly (more or less), but they still don't just notice what needs to be done and do it.

What's more frustrating is that I see a growing resentment among the one who tends to do the most.  No one else does their fair share!  Why am I always the one working?  Yada, yada, yada.  Oh, yeah, those words came out of my own mouth.  Darn.  No wonder they complain.

Then, at the risk of stomping on a few toes, there are those in the missionary community (or school, church, or fill in the blank).  There are always those who seem blissfully ignorant of all the work that needs to be done.  They sit by and let others serve while they seem to just show up, enjoy the event, and leave when it was over.  How does that happen?

I suspect it starts at home.  I cringe to think I am training children who will become those kind of adults - who do not volunteer any more work than absolutely necessary, or who do the work grudgingly, always keeping an eye out to snitch on others who do less than they do.

Please, Lord, keep my children from either extreme.  Make them true servants of the Most High God.  Help them to go above and beyond what they think they can or should contribute.  Give them good attitudes about service to others.  Cause them to inspire others to work, to go above and beyond the call of duty, to answer without hesitation, "Sure, I can do that for you!"

Oh, and help me set a good example for them, persevering in good works with a good attitude.

Can anyone tell me what the American attitude would be?  Or what the Christian attitude should be?

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Here's a memory from the early years (loosely) related to the whole attitude dilemma:

I'll never forget the time I had a "helper" to come lend a hand when I had four little children under the age of six.  I was overwhelmed and dying for lack of even a potty break without little ones under foot.  Instead of gaining the help I presumed was available to me, I found another mouth to feed and one more plate, fork, and cup to wash after each meal.

At my breaking point, I explained as rationally as I could that my soul was shriveling up and dying for lack of a devotional time.  I apologized for my bad attitude, and asked straight out if this helper might actually start helping me a little bit.  Instead of helping, though, she stopped right there on the spot and began to pray for my bad attitude!

I have laughed over this unbelievable true scene from my life in Guatemala, but honestly, I have to ask myself if I haven't been guilty of the same sin - praying when I should have been offering help.  Then again maybe sometimes I am guilty of stepping up and volunteering when I should be "just" praying.  Who knows?

The old Mary-Martha dilemma is played out differently depending on whether I'm the Mary or the Martha on any given day.  Truly I'd like to believe that my motives are pure - that I just want help so I can better invest my time at the feet of Jesus.  Truthfully, though, it's often just envy when others have more disposable time and energy than I have.

And yes, these days I have stooped so low as to be envious of my own children.  Woe is me....

"Do everything without complaining and arguing...."