It was a regular morning, I was cleaning up in the kitchen, preparing for my day. Izzy was doing some arts and crafts in the toy room. She walked over to me with sincerity in her voice and handed me a card.

Izzy: Mom, can you do me a favor?

Me: Sure, what’s up, hun?

Izzy hands me a picture that she drew. The picture was decorated with trees, handwritten with her name and God’s.

Izzy: Can you give this to God for me?

As she flips over the paper a single heart is in the center of the page.

Izzy: It has a heart on the back because I love God.

Music to this mother’s ears.

Her love for God, expressed through the offering of a simple heart, and picture made from construction paper and crayon.  So pure, so simple, so lovely.

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget that what God desires is our love. He prefers our simple cards with a heart, rather than one thousand eloquent words with no meaning behind them. God wants us to sit at His feet and listen to Him. To stop rushing from His presence, in order to do things that breathe temporary value, because even the good things, if not done with God in the midst of it, will not have any lasting value. They will be a chore list to get done, rather than an offering of love.

Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.

Ecclesiastes 8:3

Accomplishing things does not compensate for loving. We can rush through our day, with a mile long list of things to do that we proudly proclaim are for God’s work, but if we aren’t investing in a personal relationship with the One we are doing the work for then we are missing out on the love that God wants to show us. God says, “Walk with Me, join me, spend time with Me. You are more valuable than you can possibly know.”

The Bible tells us a story of a woman who wanted to express her love for Jesus, so as she basked in God’s presence, she started pouring very expensive oil on His feet and then wiped it off with her hair (John 12). She loved Jesus and wanted to express her gratitude for him. Judas criticized her for this act. Questioning why she didn’t sell her oil, and give all the money to the poor. Jesus replies, “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:8).

There will always be opportunities to serve, opportunities of people in need. Even if we did not sleep for every day of our life, we would not fill the needs around us. Helping people is so valuable, but greater still is cultivating a deeper relationship with Christ, the One who gives us breath every day. He is worthy of our time. Get to know the One you are serving. He will give you the strength and direction for each step you take. As He reminds you daily, you are loved. So take a moment and just spend time with Him.

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10