Little Things for the Love of God

“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.”

-Brother Lawrence

Last week I reminisced about my life in Germany —the ever-optimistic American, struggling to connect in a language and culture so very different from her own. Have you ever celebrated a holiday in a new place, without family or familiar things? In those early days of life in a foreign land, where I hadn’t fully connected with my community, I was so, so grateful for my church family. 

Remember, Thanksgiving is an American holiday, and the rest of the world doesn’t stop for it. It was a strange day for us, as we rode to school on our bikes and to work on the train. We felt the strong sense of missing out—on turkey, pumpkin pie, and mostly people who cared for us. But after that normal Thursday in Germany, we had friends who gave us a sense of belonging by cooking a Thanksgiving meal with us. 

Figuring out how to bake sweet potato casserole when you can’t find marshmallows in any market, or how to cook chicken instead of turkey, because a turkey won’t fit in a tiny European oven—those were the little things that meant the world to us. They were done with love and filled a deep need we didn’t even realize we had.

Did you recently cook a dish or two for Thanksgiving? Did you do loads of dishes while the rest of the family watched football? Did you do extra laundry or stay up late cleaning, even though you felt exhausted? Those insignificant chores become meaningful when they are done with love. 

Brother Lawrence says,

“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.”

Do you know who Brother Lawrence was? He is one of my favorite people in history! Not because he was anyone remarkably special. He was a dishwasher, a cook, a baker of bread. He served other monks so they could do the “important work.” For a while, he was bitter, grumpy, even resentful about this role. But, then God revealed something to him. Brother Lawrence said, 

“It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”

Brother Lawrence realized something profound. That nothing, nothing is too small when done out of love for God. It’s not about the task, it’s about the motivation. It becomes sacred when done with love. 

When you do that thankless task, the one no one sees…when done with love, you change the world.

I’m back in the U.S.A. now. I just had the best Thanksgiving meal at our local Cracker Barrel. I didn’t have to cook and I was with my family again after so many years away from them. I know this is a gift given to me by people who are working on Thanksgiving. Their sacrifice means I can experience this priceless memory, good food, surrounded by parents, kids, aunts and uncles. My heart soars with gratitude for those I don’t know, can’t see, and can’t thank. But God sees their sacrifices, done with love.

Whatever you do, do it with love. Your sacrifice isn’t unnoticed. God sees you. What you do is so important. You are making a difference. 

Additional Scripture:

• And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. – Colossians 3:17

• Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

• If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Reflection Questions:

• What is the most thankless job you do? How would your life change if your focus and motivation changed? This week, consider using this time to pray for those you are serving.
   
• Can you involve your kids in one of these tasks? Show them what it means to do something thankless out of love and thanks to God, for all he has done?

Worship Songs & More:

To Read about the Life of Brother Lawrence, check out:

Christianity Today

You may want to read his book! It’s a quick read, but so life-changing!

Here’s his life-story for kids: 

Play this melody as you perform one of your most thankless tasks. Sing gratitude to God for His great love for you! 

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