What's Your Motivation?

My step mom broke her ankle a few weeks ago. She had surgery to reset it with a plate and six screws and is out of commission for a few months.

A week after her accident, my dad had back surgery. He's laid up for a few weeks.

They cannot do much around the house right now, so my brother, sister, and I have been helping out with meal preparations, house cleaning, laundry, lawn care, and gardening. The grand kids have also been a great help!

My grandparents live right next door to my dad and their garden is right along side my dad's. One day when I was in the garden pulling weeds, my grandma came over to talk with me.

She said that she had decided that either I really liked my parents or that they must have a lot of money and I must want it. This was her conclusion to why I would spend so much time helping out my parents.

I told her neither were the case.

Not that I didn't love them, I did! However, they are not always deserving of that love and I'm not always the most loving person. I'm afraid to say, my love for them would not be enough motivation for me, unfortunately. I also know they do not have any money to covet after.

My answer to my grandma was this.

I love God and God commands us to care for our parents and for our family members.

I am motivated by wanting to please my Lord. When I am at home trying to convince my tired body that I must now go over to my parents to do their work, after I just have done all of mine at home, it is my desire to please God that provides the motivation for me to get up and do it.

My grandma was shocked at my response but she was also shocked at my actual actions over the past few weeks. I know she knows me as the selfish, do as I please, rebel of the family, person of old. To see me in action through this experience, I know she saw something different in me-the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit-a new creation- a new attitude. My actions backed up my response and confirmed for her a difference in me.

She also shared with me that she didn't think her own children would do the same for her and I could see that hurt her.

My dad said it's all in how you are raised. I agree that if we are raised in a giving environment we might tend to be giving people in our adulthood. However, I really believe the defining difference is a life and heart changed by Jesus Christ.

Through this experience I have had an opportunity to witness to my parents, my children, my grandparents, my friends, and my extended family without having to preach. This may open the door to conversations down the road.