The Best Hearts-ease

 "God does not so much need people to do extraordinary things as he needs people who do

ordinary things extraordinarily well."

William Barclay, 1907-1978

I had never heard of a hearts ease until an older women gave me a devotion book that told a story about one. It was my first devotion book. Most of you are familiar with Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.

 I've read that devotion book many years and it introduced me to many more devotion books. One story caught my eye and it was about a little hearts ease. Years later I would share this story when I talked about note writing.

This story is simple, but profound. The point: Whatever God has given you to do, do it the very best you can.

"A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw it's life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac; and so on all through the garden. Coming to a hearts ease, he found its bright face lifted as cherry as ever. 'Well, hearts ease, I'm glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.' 'No, I am not of much account, but I thought if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a hearts ease, I am determined to be the best little hearts ease that I can.'"

You may think that what you do for God's kingdom is a very small thing. But if God has gifted you to do it, put all your might into it and do it! 

 

"In The One Year Women of the Bible devotion book by Dianne Neal Matthews she says "Too often in the church, attention tends to focus on the more visible ministries . . . But God has given his children all kinds of gifts and abilities. Practical skills like sewing, cooking, decorating, and organizing may not be flashy, but they can have a tremendous impact on other people's lives.  Whatever abilities we have can bless others if we dedicate it to God. We can't all sew clothes [Dorcas, Acts 9:36-42] but we can all sow seeds of kindness--using whatever tool God has given us."

That also includes helpers, comforters, ushers, maintenance workers, reading, and so many more skills that aren't seen.

 

 In Hebrews 6:10 it says, " . . . He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." God knows what we do. Do it the very best you can!

 

 

"The noblest service comes from unseen hands, And the best servant does his work unseen."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1809-1894