Something Beautiful

   “You are the hands of God in the world.  Go now and make him something beautiful.” (Paul Hess, “Beautiful Hope”)

   What can I make for God that would be beautiful in His eyes?  If we ponder for too long about this question we miss the point.  We can make something beautiful every day; something that will be pleasing to God.

   As a married man I can make my marriage beautiful.  I can give myself totally and completely to my wife knowing that she gives the same wonderful gift to me.  I can love her with all my heart and soul confident in her love of me.  Together we can offer the love God has given us back to Him as our gift in thanksgiving for the many blessings He has given us.

   At work the most boring, seemingly unimportant task can become something beautiful if offered to God.  It doesn’t matter what it is, if it is offered to God with love it is something He treasures.  By offering our efforts to the Lord we are much more likely to do the best job we possibly can.  Our gift not only pleases God it may be the only evidence of God that others see.

   Simply going to the grocery can become a beautiful gift to God.  A pleasant word; a smile; a wave to a small child.  These can all be part of our daily gift to our Lord.  A simple “How are you today?” and “Thank you” to the person at the checkout may be the only pleasant word they hear today.  Offering to help someone struggling with their packages tells them that someone cares.  These can all be the beautiful things we make for God.

   If we allow our faith and love of God to be evident in all we do everything will become a bit more beautiful.  God doesn’t need anything we have, but He is pleased with whatever we give Him out of love.  Everything can become beautiful when it becomes a gift given to God.

   “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” (St. Therese of Lisieux)