On being a helpmeet

Years ago during a long trip, our family descended upon a lone Taco Bell on the side of a Texas interstate.

Sometimes when we disembark the bus, the employees at such establishments go on high alert, sharpen up, and get ready for a Greyhound busload of varsity football players, each with their $4 individual orders.

Sometimes the manager will thank us with a big smile, smile at the children and give us a free soda to drink while we wait for our food.

But sometimes, maybe quite often, especially when the manager is not present, the employees begin to sulk and sigh and roll their eyes.

However, the real test comes when they hear our order.

"Twenty bean burritos with no onions and no sauce,

five with onions and sauce.

Two hardshell tacos,

three soft-shell tacos,

one supreme,

and 15 cups of water."

On this particular visit, the young man responded with rolled eyes and disinterest. We were imposing on his quiet afternoon. We noticed a conspicuous lack of finger pushing as he took our order.

As anticipated, the order we received bore little resemblance to the order we placed, and we realized we had to take it back. As we expected, the young man behind the badge was not pleased. He conspicuously threw the messed up order in the trash, and showed little determination to do better as we repeated our specifications.

Now, HE was going to be in trouble, and this is such huge order, and blah blah blah.

It was pretty obvious that this young man was displaying such a poor attitude because he was unaware of the reason for him standing behind the counter: US!

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10

The attitude of serving is not one which is very popular, and its lack is pretty noticeable these days. But it affects many more people than just fast food servers. All of us as believers can be affected by out of whack attitudes if we forget our purpose.

In looking at our roles as helpmeets, while we are certainly not merely servants, it is a helpful reminder for us to examine what exactly a helpmeet is. Many wives' potential frustrations and disappointments can be redirected to positive action (in prayer and speech and countenance!), as we are motivated out of love and concern, because we remember what the Lord has designed for us to be as helpmeets. It is this recognition that enables us to get beyond our own feelings and begin to grasp the task to which God has called us, to do our husbands good and not harm.

We hope to begin discussing some of the facets to our roles as helpmeets, and through out any wrong thinking that has crept in to our thinking.

Hope you can make it!