A given day brings enough to do that potentially quells connection. We connect on a task level, and we are truly grateful for acts of service. In fact, my love language is affirmation and acts of service. If together we check off the list, I feel accomplished and relieved. An item not checked off circles around in my mind. Oh how wonderful to accomplish, to get it done, and to move forward.

As important as the day-to-day is, at the heart of your to do list is eternity. We live in the now with our soul connected to eternity.  I’ve heard expressions of “you can’t take it with you”, and this message was played out over a sweatshirt– not anything of great value like a boat, expensive jewelry, or money.

At my local exercise place, I saw someone with my sweatshirt on. I had been missing that sweatshirt for a while. I made a comment that the sweatshirt looked just like one I lost, and she said that it was probably mine, because she found it in the lost and found. She graciously offered to take it home and wash it for me and to return it. She mentioned how much she loved wearing it between sessions–it kept her warm, and was a perfect fit. We laughed. I went into my session, and like a billboard message as you are driving down the highway, God brought to remembrance the verse-“if you have two coats, give one away”. I believe the verse reminds us to share instead of hoard, but in my case I took this literally.

I shared with her after my session what I experienced, laughed, and said to her–“you can have it!” What makes this story so funny is what happens AFTER the give-a-way.  I shared the story with my husband, and he said, “Wait, that was actually my sweatshirt.”  Also, a part of the conversation was my youngest who could not believe I would give away something that did not really belong to me.

Heavens to Betsy what have I done.

Full disclosure here–I obsessed over that sweatshirt. I even tried to find one just like it to buy for my husband. I kept being curious about why I had these ridiculous thoughts verses being self-critical.  Fast forward about two months later. I see her in my sweatshirt, and she shares the funny story, but she emphasizes kindness and giving to a room full of folks.  Huge light-bulb goes off here.  God is so very patient with me. “Anna, you will not take the sweatshirt with you into eternity. What will exist forever is love and the kindness shown through giving.”

My friends, I can’t find that kind of stuff on Amazon Prime.

Awkward. Simple. Ridiculous story in the life of this human being.  Curiosity was met with profound answers.

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6

The only thing that counts?

I love to count. I count how many times I’ve had to deal with an issue. I count how many times I have to circle back, or climb that foolish mountain again. I count how many things got done. I count the sum total of my bank account. Am I counting or loving?

Through my work and friendships, I have recently had colleagues and girlfriends show me what love looks like. In the busy, they connected, loved, and listened. So many stories and occurrences over the last few months are swirling around in my mind. I’m truly grateful.

I’m at a place in my life that I need to know and see love in the midst of chaos. My soul aches for this, and I struggle to find it some days in myself.

Today, I’m asking God to reveal love within the now and the hard.

“It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” Mother Teresa