In the day to day fibers that make up the fabric of my existence, I do very little of note. The sun pours through the windows of my Alaskan home; I smile, yawn, and squint at the new day ahead. What brings meaning to a small life? It is a question I ask myself often enough. Never wishing my contentment and peace to turn to complacency and indifference, I continually search for meaning, for that which takes me beyond myself: we all search for validity one way or another. Some find it in accomplishment, in achievement, in a difficult task well done. Some find it in ministry, in life-long service, in sacrifice. I have looked for all these things in my small life; I have tasted of achievement and ministry and service, and have found them pleasing. The world says I am nothing without them: but God says I am nothing without love. Instead of pursuing the most excellent, we believe it is expendable: the icing on the cake, the addition to everything else in life.
What brings meaning to life lived in quiet? To a wife who lives to please her husband and her God? The world shakes its head at all she could have been. She smiles, knowing she has found all she was ever searching for. No talent, no gift, no life is ever wasted when poured out in love for another.
“…the greatest of these is love.”
- by Elizabeth Jackson
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4 comments:
Thank-you!
Thanks for this post, Elizabeth. It is just what I needed to hear.
I've grown up in a home without a lot of money, so since I was young I wanted to make money--not to be rich, just to help out my family. But as I've grown in the Lord, I've seen that the Lord wants me to take my focus off that--even if I were to do a home business, which as a young lady who hopes to be a wife and mother, is what I prefer--and instead just focus on being who He wants me to be. Loving those around me--my family, my friends, all the people I come in contact with--and showing that love in ways that bring God glory--this is much more valuable than the highest-paying job.
No matter where God places me, however small it seems or however big, as you said, if I do my tasks with love toward my God and my fellow man, then it will be worth it.
Thanks again for the reminder! May the Lord bless you in all that you do!
~JoAnna
The other day a woman at church asked me how I was doing with college and what degree I was getting. When I told her, she squinted and asked me what I was going to do with it. My reply was vague, though it satisfied her, but I went away thinking, "do with it? Edify myself, while I wait to fulfill the most important role I can imagine, and become the very blessed wife of the very best of men". So few people seem to understand, but I don't really mind. I'm very content with my small life. I loved the line...
"No talent, no gift, no life is ever wasted when poured out in love for another."
Amen
Thank you for this post. It really encouraged me. Living out a life of peace and contentment like you mentioned, I sometimes feel that there is something wrong with me because I don't have some particular minstry that I'm called to.
It is really neat that I read this post today, because just yesterday I was reading in 1 Corinthians (Chapter 13, I think) about how love is the most important thing. Maybe God is trying to tell me something :)
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