Those Things You Really Don’t Feel Like Doing

I’m going lay it out plain. I was home after work, house to myself, in cozy slippers, with episode nine of When Calls The Heart waiting for me. The clock struck six, and I knew I had to leave for Awana in 15 minutes.

But I was so comfortable.

So I waited until 6:17 and got myself in the car to go to church. Goodbye cozy house. Goodbye slippers. Goodbye Mountie Jack and Elizabeth.

And then it was the sweetest evening. I pulled my chair up next to one boy who rattled off Psalm 23 to me so fast that I could hardly breathe by the time he was done. Not sure David had that tempo in mind when he wrote the song, but it got the kid a signature in his Awana book.

Then I turned to a tow-headed boy with freckles who worked the whole evening until he could say John 3:16.

“What does this say?” he said.

“Whoever believes,” I said. I could not stop looking at his adorable freckled face.

I moved on to the next little boy. He said three verses to me with no problem. Then he turned and puked his entire stomach contents into the chair next to me. There was a man Awana leader there, and he came at that mess with a roll of paper towels and the most calm I have ever seen.

Dear men everywhere: If you calmly mop up vomit instead of passing the job to the woman next to you, send me your t-shirt, and I will iron a big read S onto it. Because you are seriously about as hero as a man can get.

Next it was time for me to listen to the older kids, and I helped an older grade school girl find a verse in the Bible for her very first time. We talked some about the gospel truth, too –how we’re all sinners with deceitful hearts. (I hope she comes back next week for the good news.)

One hour. I helped for one hour.

I came home thinking that the most meaningful things I’ve done in life are usually those things I don’t feel like doing in the moment. They are activities that are worth leaving a quiet house, warm slippers, and Hallmark for.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

So is there some good work you need to do today, but you’re dragging your feet?

Come on. Up ya go.