Are you happy?
Ok. Ok. I can just hear some of you rolling your eyes, thinking “are you kidding me?”
I don’t know what’s going on in your life but I know what’s going on in the world. And odds are there is a thing (or two or three) in your life that is robbing you of happiness. And even if you aren’t in the middle of a crisis, the mere monotomy of life can rob you of joy.
I came across an interesting verse today about happiness – one I had never quite seen in this light.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!‘ (Mathew 25:21)
You know what struck me about this verse? That when I am faithful in the little things in my life it makes God happy. The little things. The everyday things. Not the stuff the rich and famous are entrusted with, but the stuff regular people like me are entrusted with. And because God is happy with my faithfulness in the “few things” he invites me to share in the joy!
What does this mean for me, a regular run-of-the-mill wife and mom?
Well, for starters it means God is pleased when I…
make sure my family has food to eat in the fridge.
pick up my husband’s underwear off the floor (without complaining!)
plant flowers in our yard to make our house a home.
wash, dry and fold my family’s clothes…over and over and over again.
take a friend out to lunch.
help a friend in need.
meet deadlines at work.
pay our bills on time.
wipe a runny nose or messy bottom.
wash the dishes.
feed the dog (well, God would like this if we had a dog!)
pray for my husband.
discipline a child.
praise a child.
In other words, we don’t have to be super stars to please God. We just have to be faithful in what he has given us to do.
Do you have a husband? Be faithful in loving and respecting him. Do you have kids? Be faithful in teaching and training them. Do you have a place to live? Be faithful in caring for it. Do you have friends? Be faithful to encourage them. Do you have a job? Be faithful in whatever it is you do for a living.
Be faithful in the little things. They matter. God notices.
Then when you lay your head down on your pillow at the end of the day, smile. You have pleased God. He looks at you and says “Well done!” And He invites you to share in his happiness.
