I cleaned the house today. I emptied the trash bin, cleaned the fridge, scrubbed the sink, cleaned the toilet… I cleaned the entire house by myself. Did I enjoy it? No! I would rather watch Netflix! But I gladly did it because I care for the people who will be coming home with a clean house. Tomorrow, my housemates will be coming home after a 10-day pilgrimage in Holy Land. I am certain that they are tired and jet-lagged. I made sure that when they come home, they won’t find anything to clean because knowing them, they ALWAYS find something to clean. So today, I spent the entire day cleaning the house so tomorrow when they arrive, they cannot find any reason not to rest.
It’s a seemingly small gesture but I did it out of love. Love doesn’t need to be grand, it can be expressed in small things, just like holiness.
God notices the small things
Few days ago, someone told me, “we don’t want to do the small things because no one notices the small things. Our efforts will not be recognized when we do small things. But God notices it. He recognize even the smallest things we do”
It dawned on me that maybe it’s the reason why everyone wants to be part of music ministry but no one would volunteer to clean the toilet. We recognize how good the speakers are but we fail to recognize the one who passionately arranged the chairs whenever we have activity in our parish or in our ministry.
Do small things with great love
St. Teresa of Calcutta is known for this quote “do small things with great love”. This quote summarizes how she lived her life. Because she chose to do things with great love, she made a difference, she changed the world. By doing things with great love, she founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, received a Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian works and canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Do things with great love. Even if it no one notices it even if you will not be recognized for doing it. The Lord notices it. We may not be rewarded here on earth but we will rewarded in heaven.
Let us do things that can make us holy hoping against hope that at the end of our lifetime, God will welcome us in heaven and say “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matter I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy. Matthew 25:21
Do small things with great love. Let’s strive to be holy, it is worth it.
A Catholic Lay Missionary who travels the world to share her story with God. She believes that life in Christ is a beautiful adventure.