Secret Life

I am not so good at working behind the scenes. Oh, offer me the stage and the lights, and preferably a nice fog machine and I am all over it. I love to lead the leaders. I love to be in charge. I bet you can guess how much of that kind of recognition I'm getting these days.

As I did the breakfast dishes for the billionth time this morning, I was thinking about thankless jobs - you know, the ones that have to be done, but the only time anybody notices is when you DON'T do them? I have a wonderful husband who is great at noticing when I've worked hard. (Hi, Nick!) But, there are some jobs it would just be a little silly to need thanks for every day. At the same time - those jobs don't do themselves!

One of my professors at Bible School once told a story about a woman who lived with a very demanding husband. As I remember it, the husband had commanded her to bring him his coffee every morning for years. One day, she considered telling him where he could go take his coffee, and walking out the door. It was at that moment she heard God say to her,
"Would you bring Me a cup of coffee"?
"Well, of course, Lord," she said.
"OK. Please make me a cup of coffee and then take it to your husband."

That story, although maybe a little silly, really hit me even before I was married. It really makes sense now.

Note: Two identical, bald, very gay men walking three schnauzers just walked down the street outside my window. It was exceedingly odd.

OK, back to my spiritual thought. :) Really READ this - it's only 4 verses:

Matthew 6:1-4
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I don't know anyone who is more needy than small children. They can't do anything for themselves. So, I'm willing to bet that this verse also applies to those thousands of little things we do for them every day.

And, you know that thing in you that would love to walk around saying, "Look! I'm picking up your cup and plate AGAIN. Here I am, putting away your toys. Alright, I'm making your lunch now..." ...and actually get some praise and thanks for that? Well, what's wrong with telling God that all day? Col. 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," After all, those jobs are being done in secret, but God doesn't miss a thing. And our servant's hearts to take care of our families aren't something He misses either.

Lord, I'm doing the dishes now for You. I'm doing the laundry for You. I'm sitting up all night with a sick kid for You. Although this behind the scenes work isn't my favorite, I have to say the sense of God's presence that comes from a humble, happy heart in the midst of that kind of work is worth everything to me.