Little Things

“When I was thirsty, you gave Me drink”, “When I was naked you clothed Me”; when is the last time we can say that we did for the least of our brothers and sisters?  Thanksgiving and Christmas come around and immediately, we think about food and clothing drives in an effort to fulfill the duty of stewardship.  We walk to the coffee shop while ignoring the gentleman carrying packages as we let the door hit him behind us.   Then we go to work see a coworker who is visibly distraught yet we go in the other direction because we have work to do.  After a long day, the kids are watching tv and, instead of watching a show together, spending quality time, we make them go to their rooms so we can watch what we want.  Life is not about us, it is not about a me but rather a we.  Bonded by our Father, we have an opportunity to explore life without the worry of solitude yet pride claims solitude as a status symbol. When we ignore those around us, when we push them away we side with pride, side with the push of the ego attempting to climb to the top of the status ladder.  We lose who we are in Christ for humility and service cannot thrive in the light of the ego for the ego is much too bright, spotlighting only itself.  We need to give without asking for anything in return, we need to invite that we may bond with the heart and speak with the soul to the stranger and lover alike.  To give, to serve is to represent the Father and share His world one offering, one action at a time.  This world is not about me yet this is precisely our society...me, me, me, what can you do for me while, of course, entitlement is the foundation.  Our foundation needs to be grounded I  service as we witness the Father’s love in our prayers and actions.  When we give, we offer so much more then the physical action, we give of ourselves, we share our soul allowing our hearts to bind, if but for a single moment.  This may be the only moment for some to see a glimpse of God for their hearts have been hardened by and the souls searching for love.  We know not the situation of a stranger, we know not their claim upon love but we do know our heart, our soul, our commitment to faith and our extendability of unconditional love.  Because we have the ability to reach beyond our person, to touch the soul of another we have the responsibility to act in faith and recognize the value of another.  We can run food drives, they are great but when was the last time we hydrated our mail carrier on a scorching hot day?  Clothes drive are fantastic but when was the last time we gave the kid shoveling our sidewalks a fresh pair of gloves because his were soaked from all of the snow?  Service is about the little things for it is the little things that mean the most.  How ecstatic are when we come home and see vacuum marks on the carpet when we know we did not leave a list of chores?  It is the little things.  Why not make today the start of the little things...holding the door for the next person, acknowledging the presence of a stranger with a hello, waving on another driver even if it means missing the turning light, creating a family time bonding with love.  Humbly we serve the Lord with every action of love, every action of faith, every verbiage of the heart, every share of the soul. Let today we begin anew, start over and see the world as our opportunity to love, to share, to freely give of ourselves and bond with our fellow humans thus creating a larger family of love.  To give without recognition is to strengthen the bond of love.  We have the opportunity to give each day, to make a difference for one, ten or 100 people each day, why not make today the first day of change?  It is the little things we do, our sincere actions grounded in faith which allow us to honestly answer the Father, “When did I give You drink, when did I clothe You?”  Make the little things a priority and life as we know it will change drastically in love.