Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,

Colossians 3:23

The time had come for the four year olds to pick up toys in their classroom and put them away. I was new to this program and didn’t yet know where some things went. The confusion must have shown on my face because a boy came up to me and offered to put away the toys I held in my hands. I handed the toys over and watched where he placed them for future reference.

What I saw next really surprised me. He turned from the toy shelf, now empty handed, with an incredible smile on his face. His whole countenance was joyful.

“You really look happy”, I said. “Do you like to clean up that much?”

He responded, “I’m just doing what God wants me to do”.

Clearly doing what God wants him to do brought him much happiness.

I marveled at that because, well, I’m just not there yet, but I want to be.

Oh, I can be joyful serving meals to people experiencing homelessness and gathering school supplies for children who can’t afford them. I can be very joyful going on mission trips and doing other things that strike me as serving.

But cleaning up toys and changing diapers and taking out the trash? These are all part of my job, a job I am extremely grateful for and so I should be doing them joyfully. I’m trying to follow the example of my little friend but sometimes I fail. So does my little friend. We are learning together and thankful for God’s grace and forgiveness for those times we grumble and complain about the chores.

Brother Lawrence wrote this:

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God,

who regards not the greatness of the work but the love with which it is performed”.

Father forgive me for not counting it all joy. You have blessed me not only with the job but the ability to do the things I need to do for that job and so much more. Help me and my little friend to honor You by joyfully doing the work set before us. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.

pic credit: lavishmercy.com