Silent Offerings

Silent Offerings

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

Bobbie stared at the dishcloth in her hand. How can cotton material be so heavy? she thought. She dropped it back into the sink. Wiping the countertop wasn’t important. Nothing was important now except her children, ten-year-old Marc and five-year-old Lisa.

The house was filled with out-of-town relatives, new friends from church, and coworkers from the university. Someone had finished decorating the Christmas tree in the living room. Bobbie was having trouble sorting through the chaos. How could her husband, her beloved Bill, have died? She still needed him. Their children needed him.

Lisa came into the kitchen just then to tug at Bobbie’s hand and pull her into the living room. All Bobbie wanted to do—in fact, had the energy to do—was sit on the sofa with her somber children. But there were phone calls to answer, decisions to make, and visitors to greet.

The only visitor either child was comfortable with was Christine, a young friend whose bright blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Even though she lived across town, she drove over each morning to take Lisa and Marc to the park. On their return, she would bring order to the kitchen. If paper plates were sitting around, she’d gather them and take out the garbage. If dirty dishes were in the sink, she’d wash them.

Some mornings she emptied the clothes hamper, picked up any clothing on the bedroom floors, and took the laundry home. A few hours later, she’d bring the clothing back, clean and folded, and put it where she thought it belonged.

One afternoon, Bobbie noticed their unmailed Christmas cards were still on the corner table. Bill had signed and addressed each one but left them unsealed. He had planned to do that the next day when he added the stamps. Bobbie glanced at them and murmured, “I’ve got to add a note to those cards.” Christine immediately said, “I’ll take care of those.” She took the stack home, typed a message saying Bill had died December 12, added stamps, and mailed the cards.

That entire week, Christine quietly moved through the house, taking care of practical needs. She was God’s messenger, bringing not only order to the household but also peace to a new widow’s spirit. —SANDRA

Lord, help me to see what needs to be done and jump in and do it instead of mouthing a feeble “Call me if you need anything.” Please love others through me.

Great works do not always lie in our way, but every moment we may do little ones excellently, that is, with great love.

—SAINT FRANCIS OF SALES (1567–1622), BISHOP OF GENEVA