Don’t you find that life as a parent of young children seems like an endless cycle of small tasks? Feeding the baby, changing diapers, washing laundry, cleaning, going to work, grocery shopping, putting the food away, cooking meals, doing homework with the kids, putting toys away, washing dishes, blowing noses, dealing with squabbles, preparing snacks, meet everyone’s needs, playing a little, cutting nails, hanging a child’s clothes for the umpteenth time today, comforting a little one at night, cook, wash, tidy up, feed, console, wash, cook, scrub, tidy, take back, walk, change, wash, tidy, cook, clean… and… repeat ad infinitum! There’s a beginning to it all, but we sometimes wonder if there’s an end to it all. Ha ha!
Isn’t it peculiar (or strange?) that God should have “formatted” human life into a series of tiny successive actions, an uninterrupted sequence of necessary gestures, rather than a series of completed events that occur suddenly?
The farmer doesn’t harvest his vegetables the day after sowing the seed! He prepares the soil well in advance by turning it over, removing weeds, harrowing, improving, and fertilizing it. He sows each seed in a specific way, spacing it according to the type, watering it, weeding, replanting, weeding, pruning, thinning, transplanting plants that need it, controlling insects… The whole process is subject to unpredictable weather variations. There are many obstacles in the way: frost or snow, hail, strong winds, drought, too much rain, not enough heat… All of which can make the job difficult. But at harvest time, what a joy to be able to eat a feast of delicious fresh fruit and vegetables!
“Rome wasn’t built in a day”: we experience this every day in a variety of areas, including our home school. A building is built stone by stone, plank by plank, nail by nail. The baby grows millimeter by millimeter with each passing second, minute and year. The piece of cloth made by the weaver lengthens one row at a time. The doctor acquires his skill through hours of study and the patients he treats…
If God wanted us, his creatures, to go through a long process before finally contemplating the finished product of our efforts, there must be a reason… no? What does He want to teach us? What’s the value of those small, everyday actions that shape life’s great achievements?
First of all, we shouldn’t deprive ourselves of joy and rest by waiting for “tasks” to be completed… because they’ll never be finished! We need to take the time to stop and find happiness in our daily lives, otherwise, what a life of sadness it would be! If, in our restlessness, we forget Jesus, we forget what’s essential!
Also, the difficulties and trials of any arduous process produce a precious fruit: perseverance! Perseverance is essential to a fruitful spiritual life:
“[…] we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
“God “ will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” (Romans 2:6-7)
Finally, every small gesture of love we make towards someone is recognized by God… Jesus does not forget any of the trouble we undertake out of love for Him:
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matt. 10:42)
Lord, help me to appreciate every little task I have to perform every day, to take joy in it, and to do it well out of love for you!
