Following His Lead

I love to see the shine of joy in my little ones' eyes.  It usually takes but a moment to bring that sparkle, but it does take a conscious effort to stop and be intentional.  To put down the dishrag and sit on the kitchen floor to roll a ball.  To tell her yes and watch her run to get her sewing basket to mend the stuffed animal.  (And to thread the needle and watch her stitch.)  To settle on the carpet of a bedroom and dig through the box with him to find just the right Lego piece.  And to settle on the sofa with a stack of favorite books and read until he is content. 

He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

With the push for "me-time" saturating our culture, it is hard not to fall into the trap.  But  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [emphasis mine]

So if He could lay down his life for me, can I not do the same for those entrusted to my care?  Can I not do it with a smile and watch the sparkle come to life? 

Because he laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

That's enough reason for me.