All Done in Love

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.

Since I don't work outside the home, most of the routine house-cleaning chores fall to me.  Those of you who have followed me here for a while know that, while I love a clean, neat house, I don't greet the necessary tasks like a long lost friend, but I don't perform them grudgingly, either.  Danny works hard to provide for us, and I like him to relax and enjoy his free time as much as he can.  Although, I might add, he will pitch in happily if I need his help.

One of the chores which Danny never touches, though, is making up our bed.  That's 100% my domain.  Last Saturday, I have to leave the house early to attend a women's conference which my friend, Lynne, has hosted for the last four years.  I'm excited about attending as this is my first time going, but the morning does not get off to an auspicious start.  Instead of my phone alarm waking me at a decent hour, the "ding" of Facebook messenger, not once, but thrice, has me tumbling groggily out of bed way before my body is even close to ready.  The annoyance wakes Danny up, too, and he is none too pleased.  Often, if he's awakened in the middle of a sound sleep, it is difficult for him to return to it.  I'm praying, albeit in a grumpy way, that this won't be his fate today.

Luckily, Danny is able to return to the land of dreams, but I'm in a funk that even the strongest coffee can't cure.  So as not to rouse him from slumber, I wait until the last minute to take my shower and dress, as noiselessly as I can, in the dark.  By the time Danny does wake up, I have only moments to dry my hair and go.  Making the bed?  Ha!  I'll just do it when I get back.

But I don't have to.

When I return home in the afternoon, it is all made up, neat as a pin.  The dishes that were in the sink are racked in the dishwasher and the stainless steel sink is scrubbed and polished.  Small things, right?  Not to me!  I am thrilled that Danny cared enough, knowing the rough morning I'd had, to honor me above himself and make my day just that much brighter.

The older I get, the more those little gestures done with great love give me much joy and contentment.  Because, I believe, God's voice is not loudest in the howling wind and the raging tempest, but in the small and simple quiet things of ordinary life.  That's where love is heard.  That's where grace is given.

Those little moments.

Those small gestures.

All done in love.  

~

What about you?  What simple things bring joy to your heart?

Prayer:  Father, may we all be devoted to one another in love.  May we place the needs of others above ourselves.  Let us do that one small thing for someone else today that reflects Your great love.  In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.