Contentment in Being a Heartsease

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” 

Philippian 4:11

The beauty of the little Heartsease

When I was a new Christian, I sang in the choir at my home church. I sat next to a friendly, older lady who took me under her wings. One Christmas she gave me a copy of the devotion book, Streams in The Desert, Volume One.

I read that book for a number of years. It helped me understand the Christian life as a new Christian.

I recently picked the book up again and was reminded of a story I used to share when I spoke about note writing. Note writing seems like such a little thing, but this story helped show that nothing done for God is little. Whatever God has given you to do; whatever gifts He has given you, remember that every gift is big in God’s eyes.

“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 its 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 heartsease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, heartsease, 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 that 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 heartsease, I am determined to be the best little heartsease that I can.”

“Others may do a greater work, But you have your part to do; and no one in all God’s heritage Can do it so well as you.”

A graphic that encouraged me many years ago.

This little story and others like it helped me to believe I was doing something important for God in writing encouraging notes. What are you doing that doesn't seem to be important in God's kingdom? Do you just put tables up and take them down for a fellowship? Do you just cut out things for a Sunday School teacher? Do you just pray at home. Do you just cook soup for the elderly? Do you just drive people to appointments? Do you just take care of your grandchildren? Just. Just. Just.

If what you do is for God's glory, and you use the gifts He has given you, it's a BIG thing in His service.

Be the best little heartsease you can be, for yourself. and for your brothers and sisters in Christ. You will bring a smile to the gardener of your soul.

By His Grace . . .