I am forever changed by grief, but grief is not the full measure of my life in Christ. “GLEANINGS from Claudia — The Abiding Life” posts explore this life attached to the One True Vine.

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”
Ephesians 6:5-8

I’m nearing the end of a book I’ve been assigned as preparation for a weekend retreat I’ll attend about a week from now. The book is “More Than Ordinary: Enjoying Life With God” by Doug Sherman. I’ll be honest, the book started slow for me and I kind of slogged through the first section, but perseverance is paying off.

Yesterday I was particularly blessed by the reminder that my work is His work. Every task I come upon in my day is an assignment from the King and has Kingdom significance. Mr. Sherman shared the old story of a man in London in the Middle Ages watching a church being built. He approached a few construction workers to ask about their tasks and spoke to a couple of stonemasons. When asked what he was doing the first stonemason said “I am laying stone with mortar for the wall.” On the other side of the building he asked the same question of a second stone mason and heard “I am building a great cathedral for God.”

Mr. Sherman also directed my attention back to Ephesians 6:5-8. I love the emphatic reminder of these verses that I am serving God not man or myself. As I serve Him in my daily tasks I am building a reward that will come from the Lord. The book gives no clue about what that reward looks like, but there are parts of my day and tasks that I do where I can see the reward out there. Every weekday I get to go to my granddaughters’ home and wake them up, prepare breakfast, help them get ready for their day – just generally set the tone of the day for them. Then in the afternoon I get to pick them up from school and be a part of their afternoon hours until Jacob comes home from work. When I stand before my King waiting to see what the work He gave me on earth has accomplished, I fully expect to see these granddaughters in all their glory standing before Jesus. I will have been part of laying the mortar and bricks of their lives that brings them to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. This is not the life of a drudge. I’m not just getting up early and making breakfast, I’m the King’s craftsman participating in building beautiful lives for Him. Could there be a greater reward? Praise Him for allowing me to serve Him!!

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1-2