“Don’t Be A Hard Boiled Egg”

Originally Posted May 6, 2020

Today I decided to go the extra mile, put my reputation on the line, and love my wife in a new way. I decided to hard boil some eggs that she had left on the counter. It’s been a while since I’d done it and I actually had to google the instructions… “put eggs in pan with cold water, bring to a rolling boil, turn to medium and cook for 6-7 minutes, take off and immediately run cold water over it”. I pealed them and put them in a cup of water in the frig. When Judy came home, I said see if you can see a special surprise in the frig; after some time looking, she saw it and was delighted… in an appropriate way, not crazy somersault kind of way, but a measured way.

Mother Teresa said that “not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” It’s true. When I think about doing great things, I quickly come up empty handed…what can I do? But when I think of smaller things, I know that I can do them.. and I can do them with great love. Something good happens in side of me when I try to do a small thing with great love, doing it well, making it special. I enjoy doing it. I anticipate the reaction of the person I’m doing it for.

As long as we’re on the topic, another small thing I try to do with love and care  (maybe not great love) is doing the dishes. Since retiring, I’ve become the “kitchen assistant”. I try to make sure the kitchen is always in good shape…. dishes done and put away, pots and pans sparkling, countertops clean and wiped down  with our special cleaner. I hope it’s not just an obsessive  psychological disorder, but actually a small task done with some love if not great love. Anyway, when I’m done I feel a lightness in my spirit and an inward smile. An extra bonus is that it also makes life easier for those around you. Who wants to be around someone who is crabbing and complaining as they do their small job….”bla,bla,bla, I’m tired of doing these crummy dishes.. why can’t someone else do them for a change…I do all the work around here… bla,bla,bla.

Anyway, let’s ask God to give us the grace to do some of the small jobs we have before us with at least some love, trying to do a really good job. And maybe it will grow into “great love”.