The Kitchen He Didn’t Like

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — from Colossians 3

In the monastery, everyone had a job. And do you know what job they gave clumsy Brother Lawrence? They made him the cook!

Brother Lawrence did not like kitchen work. He said it went against everything he naturally liked. Imagine the big kitchen: hot fires, heavy iron pots, steam everywhere, and lots of hungry Brothers waiting for their dinner.

But Brother Lawrence found a secret. Before he started work, he would think through what needed doing, and when, and how. Then he would talk to God. He said something like this: “My God, you are here with me. Now I have to think about all these jobs. Please help me to stay close to you while I do them. Help me, and take all my work as a gift for you.”

Then, as he cooked, he kept talking to God quietly in his heart. He asked God to help him do his work well, and he did it all for God’s love.

And here is the surprise. The kitchen job he had disliked became easy! He worked there for fifteen years, and he found that doing it for God made all the difference.

Is there a job you don’t like, such as tidying your room, doing homework or washing up? Try doing it for God. Ask him to help you, and do it as a gift of love for him.

Dear God, when I have a job I don’t like, help me to do it for you, and to remember that you are right beside me. Amen.