These days, there’s a lot of talk about finding your passion and doing what you love. And I think that’s important. We should take the time to identify the things in life worth pursuing and dedicating ourselves to.
But I don’t think finding joy in what you do is nearly as important as finding joy in how you do it.
This is something I learned from my grandma.
Growing up, my family attended church every Sunday. I remember, when I was young, hanging out primarily with my grandmother. Mostly, this was because she was working in the nursery… and I was bored in the service.
Every week, during the message, I would complain about needing the bathroom. After escaping to the hallway, I’d check the nursery hoping my grandma needed help. I would always find her there, sitting peacefully, usually rocking a baby to sleep. On a small black-and-white television, she would be watching the pastor deliver his sermon.
As I got older and I began to understand what was happening in the sanctuary, I grew to appreciate it. The words encouraged me and challenged me. Slowly, I began to spend fewer and fewer Sundays in the nursery with my grandma. And I began to spend more and more Sundays in the sanctuary with my grandpa.
He was, after all, the preacher on the stage.
But I’ll never forget the image of my grandma, rocking that baby, watching her husband on the small television in the nursery.
His sermons were being broadcast all over the country. Yet she just watched them faithfully, from right there in that small nursery, with a baby in her arms.
I’ve never met another woman so gifted at comforting and quieting a crying child—or relieving the nerves of an anxious mother.
My grandmother died on Christmas Eve, 2007.
Leading her Memorial Service was one of the greatest honors of my life. In preparation for it, I began to recall vividly those Sunday mornings sitting in that quiet nursery with my grandmother.
I can see now how she modeled love, humility, contentment, and joy in those moments. She never did receive recognition for her hard work. But she didn’t seem to mind. Because she faithfully served others in her quiet role, my grandfather was able to fulfill his.
We live in a world that exalts and honors those who clamor for attention. We praise and idolize those people who appear on magazine covers, climb the corporate ladder, or have ever-increasing numbers of Instagram followers. We place on a pedestal those who have acquired great wealth, fame, or power.
And many of us desire to achieve the same.
But there is an important truth for all of us that I shared the evening of my Grandmother’s service. It goes like this:
If you are content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.
We don’t always get to choose our life’s circumstances or the roles we are called to fulfill. Each of us are gifted in different ways and invited to pursue unique callings on our life.
Our greatest pursuit then, is to find humility, love, and contentment in the role we are best designed to fulfill—whether that role results in fame and fortune or not.
We find joy by focusing less on the “what we do” and more on the “how we do it.”
Serving quietly and humbly like my grandmother is no less important in this world than standing on a stage. And in that way, I may have learned just as much about life while sitting in the nursery as I ever learned sitting in the sanctuary.
Jeff Mc Clung says
Love that verse, Joshua: “If you are content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.” Great reminder that how we do things is just as important (if not more so) than what we do. Thank you for writing this post.
Melissa says
I’d just like to say, this was brilliant! Honestly, I think you’ve just made my year with this post. It really, really resonated with me, so i’m going to make sure to keep it nice and close where I can pull it out and read it every now and then.
Linda Sand says
A Sunday nursery worker once told me she felt blessed to have this opportunity to teach the very youngest that God loves them and will keep them safe in His arms even when their parents are not present.
Debbi says
Amen. The word that came to my mind as the fitting response to your testimony. Thank you.
salt says
Josh u impart really well where u say “if you are Content to simply be yourself you become more than yourself””…been having a difficult time being content with myself but realize the only way I can start finding fulfillment is being content with my self…and to find the peace Jesus has given me….GOD BLESS YOU JOSH..
Suparna says
Thank you for sharing this very simple and yet powerful story. Lot of us (myself included) get caught up in what we are supposed to be doing and “called out” for stopping and smelling the flowers as we go along. Sometimes there is such a lot of pressure from peers, friends, relatives to perform and this article made me realize that we have to decide to let go….let go of the the voices that bother us and discourage us and have conviction that when we enjoy life and enjoy every moment, that’s when life is worth living.
Vange says
This. This was epic! Stunningly simple… yet the joy and key to enjoy ones life! The best ever post! To love what you are doing, where you are in life’s surprising journey (Unless it’s evil or immoral), is the essence of an exhilarating life! So much fun! The joy of the little things! The joy of loving each stage, each moment, each and every day! We don’t just live for the big show – but the joy of the every moment show! Thanks! I truly did mean for every exclamation mark!!!!! ????
Lisa Avellan says
“Our greatest pursuit then, is to find humility, love, and contentment in the role we are best designed to fulfill—whether that role results in fame and fortune or not.”
Oh this is good. So, so good
Brenda says
Joshua, this was a lovely story. I couldn’t help but wonder if I might have heard of your Grandfather in the past. Is giving his name something you feel at liberty to do online? It reminded me of my Dad sitting outside in his car listening to Rex Humbard on the radio when I was a kid. Peaceful times in the country with almost no technology.
I would like to look up you grandparents when I get to heaven and say, “Oh! It is so nice to meet you! your grandson, Joshua, wrote the sweetest story about you!”. : )
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
Such a great perspective– and so true. We become more in humility, in contentment, and in choosing joy through every season.