Nothing Is too Small for My King to Notice

This is a wonderful reflection written by Mother Saint Paul (d. 1940). She was the Superior of the Sacred Heart Sisters in Birmingham and the author of many popular devotional works. She wrote this for Advent but it certainly applies to Lent. I changed the word Advent to Lent for practical purposed. It has really motived me. I hope it is inspirational to you also.

"But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are in costly apparel and live delicately are in the houses of kings" (Matthew 11:18).

John the Baptist prepared for the coming of his King by a life of self-sacrifice every day, giving up, for the sake of Him Who was coming, all the things that were just as dear to his nature as they are to mine.

What part is self-sacrifice taking in my preparation for my King this Lent?

I have no need to go into the desert or live the life of a hermit. It is the little tiny acts of self-sacrifice known only to my King and me which are so pleasing to Him. It is wonderful what notice He takes of little things which are done out of love for Him. 

If we could promise Him a certain number of these little acts every day, perhaps six or ten or even one, and mark them down to ensure their being remembered, it would be a preparation very precious in His sight:

• To do a hard thing just becasue it is hard.
• To keep silent when I could say something sarcastic or clever but not quite charitable.
• To bear little physical sufferings without letting everybody know about them.
• To be cheerful and bright when I am feeling tired and moody.
• To accept all that happens to me as coming straight from God's hands, especially all the little crosses that come to me through others. ["Dominus est" - It is the Lord who is asking this of me.]

These are the things that will make me a saint, and I cannot keep Lent or any other season better than by practicing them. Nothing is too small for my King to notice. Let me then be generous and give Him all I can, remembering that as long as the little act costs me something, it is sure to be acceptable to Him. "He must increase and I must decrease" (John 3:30), and it is by self-sacrifice that this great work will slowly be accomplished in my soul. 

A few things that I would add to this reflection are that I am using this idea for "focused prayer." I have made a list of people or situations that I am praying for. On each day of Lent, I am dedicating all of my little acts of self-sacrifice for one person on that list - a different person each day. I am also using my sacrifice beads to keep track. 

One last thing, each of these acts of self-sacrifice can not only be offered up for a living person, they can also be offered as an indulgence for a deceased loved one. This at least doubles the value of the act of love. Learn more here.