Do Small Things With Great Love
Hanging out the washing has always been a job I’ve had a distaste for. I don’t know why, it’s really not that hard. When I was 12, I created a game to make me finish it quicker. I pretended I was on a game show where the quickest to hang out the load was the winner. The commentary of the game show host that I made up in my head was cringe worthy. The memory now, is embarrassing, but I can appreciate that it helped me get the job done.
It’s often when the mundaneness of life sets in that we most desire we were making something more of ourselves.
Sometimes, it’s the achievements of others that make us ask what we contribute to society.
Other days, some self-deprecating thoughts creep into our mind for some or no reason and niggle at us – making us feel worthless.
We try push these negative thoughts aside but then can’t help wondering if there is some truth to them. By then, it’s 8pm and we tell ourselves we can’t save the world tonight so we may as well enjoy ourselves, get some sleep or watch some Netflix – we’ll start world-saving tomorrow…
How can we tell if we are doing all we can to be the best person we were made to be?
Sure, there’s sacrifice involved. But God doesn’t expect all of us to go John-the-Baptist-style (as impressive as that might be).
So where do we find the balance? You could look at it like a road – long, straight, never-ending, with a destination beyond the horizon. Or, you could look at it like a mountain – tall, magnificent, hard to climb with a rewarding view.
If we want to BETTER ourselves, we have to aim ABOVE ourselves.
Reaching the top of the mountain in one day is unrealistic but making the best effort at a day’s climb isn’t.
Then, at the end of the day, no negative lies that creep into our mind about our worth can bother us when we know we did all we could.
In doing this, we don’t have to compare ourselves to others. Yes, we should follow the example of those doing good. But everyone is climbing the mountain at a different pace. And just like professional mountain climbing – we don’t master it overnight. It takes perseverance despite setbacks, patience despite obstacles, practice despite inexperience and faith despite flaws.
It takes one step at a time.
These steps are small. And what makes them significant isn’t always the physical progress (or the lack thereof). It’s the amount of love and glory to God we give in doing them.
It’s in pursuing a purpose, that we find success within our lives because even when we don’t win the ribbon or have the dream job, we are content we know we couldn’t have tried any harder.
Hanging out a load of washing can be a mundane, insignificant and tiring event. Or, it can be an opportunity to challenge ourselves and fulfil a task to be best of our ability so that when we’re exhausted at the end of the day, we know that we gave it our all.
You’ll find doing the smallest of things with the greatest of love just might be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
But you won’t doubt that you’re doing something good.
Elise Drum
Elise is a first year Medical student in Sydney from rural NSW who enjoys a variety of sports and being outdoors. She also loves food but when it comes to cooking – she burns water.