Even Simple Acts of Love

In the 1600’s a monk named Brother Lawrence wrote a series of letters that were collected and titled, “Practicing the Presence of God.” These letters have been inspirational to many over the years. In one of these letters, he wrote: “Never tire of doing even the smallest things for God, because God isn’t impressed so much with the dimensions of our work as with the love in which it is done.”

Sometimes it feels like our small acts of compassion or our contributions to the church, or our volunteer time won’t make any difference in the long term. After all, the problems and challenges in the world around us are immense. However, Brother Lawrence helps us see this in a different light. He reminds us that what counts most is our heart. Even the smallest act, if done out of love, makes a difference because it is pleasing to God and because that love is passed on.

Much earlier, the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15, “Therefore my dear brothers and sisters stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Let us pray: We remember, O Lord, that nothing is lost on you; that small things do matter; and that with you, even our simple acts of love can build to a mighty stream. We pray today for a spirit of love – love that overflows and spills out of our hearts and into our actions. We offer our very lives to you again this day – asking you to use the gifts we bring small and large to bless others. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.