The Joyful Washing of Dishes

   My somewhat orderly, predictable life was suddenly turned upside down after volunteering to take care of our grandsons Nate (8) and Elliot (6) from Friday afternoon to the fourth of July. Just before Nate and Elliot arrived, I made each of them a motivational chart on poster board to help clarify what was expected of them while they were staying with us. I hoped it would make things more enjoyable and organized.

  There were five areas that would be our main focus. 1. Reading and math or science (30 minutes) 2. Music practice (15 minutes) 3. Good eating habits with foods from each of the food groups 4. Hygiene, including brushing teeth and taking a shower.  5.  Helping put away clothes and doing certain chores.

   Both charts were the same, with five paper pockets glued on one side, one for each area of focus, and an empty pocket in the middle.  In every pocket was a rectangular card, except for the middle pocket which was designed to hold the cards when the activities were completed. There were certain requirements before each activity was finished, with different expectations for the younger grandson than the older. Chores for Nate might include pulling weeds in the yard for instance, while Elliot could help tidy up the bedroom.  

   When the five cards were in the “all done” pocket, there was a reward of 30 minutes free time. It was up to them to decide what they wanted to do. The boys could also earn 10 minutes bonus free time for going over and above the requirements in the areas of reading, helping and eating, making a total of 30 minutes of bonus time. Nate and Elliot were able to complete everything on the chart in a day and often earned bonus minutes as well.

     The motivational charts helped us all. Al and I didn’t have to nag because they knew what was expected of them.  And they liked the idea of earning free time to do whatever they wanted, especially playing a game on the computer.

   Nate even decided to make me a chart, with slightly different categories: 1. “Feed the dogs morning and night.” 2. “Make the bed. To get bonus make two beds.” 3. “Wash dishes.  To get bonus, wash them joyfully.” 4. “Water the plants.” 5. “Sleep.”

   At the bottom of the chart, he wrote: “When all cards in ‘all done,’ you get one hour of free time. When bonus is done, 15 minutes of reading.” Nate specified that my free time had to be undisturbed!  He is a perceptive boy to have noticed my sleep deprivation. And did he hear me grumbling while doing the dishes? When we three talked about our charts at the end of the day, I usually had to confess that I wasn’t very joyful when finishing the dishes late at night. And when was I supposed to have the hour of undisturbed free time?

   Joyfully serving others is not always easy to do. Complaining…now that comes naturally!

   Dear Father, help us all to serve each other joyfully. Thank you for Jesus, for His example of loving service to others. Please forgive us for complaining and empower us to follow His example through your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

   “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins…If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ…” 1Peter 4:8-11 NIV

A very simple, but handy tool! :)

 

Two energetic boys....on neighbor's trampoline. PTL for neighbors!