Home Service

I often joke that the person I miss most is our ever reliable helper, Mylene. And that is partly true. What a relief it would be to have her here and help us with our daily chores. But the reality is, everyday, I have to wake up early to prepare breakfast, take out food from the freezer for dinner, and when I get home from work, prepare dinner, help with the children’s homework, do laundry, etc., etc. Weekends are spent going to the grocery, cleaning the house and doing more laundry. My day’s work is never done.

So, the rest of the family have to step in and do their part. Jojo and I have agreed that I take care of everything inside the house, and he takes care of everything outside, like shoveling the snow, mowing the grass, and gardening. He is a handyman, so we have saved a lot of money for small repairs, as these services are very expensive here. The kids follow a schedule of chores. The two younger kids clean and set the table. The older ones take turns washing the dishes (it would be a dream come true for them if we used paper plates everyday). They prepare their own lunches and snacks for school, and cook their own merienda when they get home. They also do their own laundry. I told them that if they don’t wash their clothes, they don’t wear anything.

Sure, I love serving my family and I enjoy cooking. But it’s difficult to manage a large household and there are days when I just want to lie down and sleep. So there are nights when we buy cooked food or settle for noodles.

Such is the routine of our life here in Toronto. Used to having helpers around, we took some time to adjust. But we have all learned valuable lessons in taking responsibility and relying on each other for help. God has given us the opportunity to serve and show more love to one another. It has also given us a whole new appreciation for the service our helpers used to provide.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have Mylene around.

Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (1 Peter 4: 8-10)