by Rachel Zwayne
Feb. 9, 2026
Memory Lane I’m always amazed at how deeply nostalgic I get when I think of certain aspects of my life growing up in New Zealand. One of the fond memories that comes to mind often is the gathering we had for my mom’s side of the family every Sunday after church. We would all come from our different places of worship to “Grandma and Grandpa’s” to spend time together and eat my grandmother’s delicious food. This woman could cook and bake like no other (I’m guessing that she may have contributed to the intense sweet tooth I still have to this day). From my vantage point as a little girl, all I saw was a sweet grandma who happily greeted her family and was always predictably bustling around the kitchen, reheating all the food to get it on the table quickly for all of her famished loved ones. What I didn’t see or understand was all the hard work and selflessness that was involved in that weekly act of love. Grandma spent every Saturday shopping and cooking, making sure there were plenty of food options and desserts to choose from. She served joyfully out of love for her family and love for Jesus. As life unfolded for me and I went on to become a wife, mother, and homemaker, I quickly learned how much work it is to prepare meals, especially for large crowds. I realized that even though my grandma made all that she did seem like no big deal, there was much self-denial required. Yet I also came to experience the same joy she exhibited, the joy that comes from being exhausted from working hard to bless others. Life as a homeschool mother encompasses next-level serving as we daily grapple with juggling housework, feeding constantly hungry offspring, and staying on top of the education of our children. At times, it can be difficult to have a positive attitude when we feel that all we do is serve, serve, serve, so let’s look at three ways we can guide our hearts in a biblical way. Remember Who you ultimately serve. The moment we are saved, the moment we pass from death to life, we become God’s servants. And what a privilege and honor this is! In his sermon, “Serving the Lord,” Charles Spurgeon shared, “To serve the Lord is to stand on a level with the angels; to worship the same Master as they do who are in the presence of the divine majesty. It is better to serve God than rule a kingdom.” Often, the responsibilities of home and homeschooling keep us tied down. We yearn to “do great things for God,” and sometimes look at what other Christians are involved in, wishing we had the freedom to join in on those amazing exploits. But Jesus said, if you want to be great, learn to be a servant (Matthew 20:26), and there are endless opportunities for service right in front of us as mothers and homemakers. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Each day, as you tackle the laundry, make meals, clean bathrooms, tidy up, change diapers, bathe children, and so much more, you are ultimately serving the Lord. How precious this act of worship is! And the consolation is that, on top of the privilege of serving our King, we have the promise of His help and strength (Psalm 46:1). Remember that serving is an act of love. Becoming a mother opens up a world of wonderful emotions that most of us have never experienced; the depths of love in our hearts would be impossible to calculate. To be honest, I would’ve thought that serving my children would be a breeze because my love for them is so immense. Not always! My love and care are truly genuine, but as it turns out, it’s a lot easier to express love verbally than to live it out day after day. That’s why Scripture exhorts us that our love should not merely be communicated through words, but with action. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). This is such a good reminder that serving is “I love you” in action. Remember to be honest with what you can handle. Having a heart to love and serve like Jesus—and for Him—doesn’t mean that you can never ask for help or delegate duties. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Here is our call to make sure we’re looking out for the needs of others, but notice it states, “not only for our own interests”—a mention here that looking out for our own needs is permissible; it’s not only permissible, but it allows us to better serve our families. A mother who is not overworked and has time for rest and refreshment will be able to love her family well. This is where discernment comes in. Is extra help needed? Do you need to train your children better or add a few more chores to their list as they grow? (It is healthy and good for children to learn to serve around the home.) If need be, enlist the help of a friend or your husband in determining what changes, if any, are needed. Or maybe you just need an attitude check. Maybe your heart has been full of complaints, and a major shift is in order. Maybe you’ve become too focused on the work in front of you and not taken time to look at the big picture and the beauty of serving Jesus within your home. The Grace to Serve with Joy Remember the lovingkindness of our Lord and the grace that is found in Him. As you keep your heart fixed on the fact that you are serving Jesus through lovingly serving your family, God’s smile will be upon you, and who could ask for more inspiration than that?! ______________________________
