“Most of us would like to do something special in life, something to distinguish us. We suppose that we desire it for God’s sake, but more likely we are discontent with ordinary life and crave special privileges. When Israel asked if they should offer some spectacular sacrifice–thousands of rams, ten thousand “rivers of oil,” a firstborn child–the answer was, “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8 RSV).” ~from an email devotional by Elisabeth Elliot, originally published in A Lamp For My Feet, emphasis mine.

I remember flipping through a book on our coffee table when we were first married on the subject of church growth. My husband had just graduated from seminary the year before and was beginning his sixth year as a youth pastor. I don’t remember the title of the book, but I still recall the gist of it: God requires faithfulness.

I don’t suppose there are too many church growth books currently circulating wherein faithfulness is extolled above numbers and activity levels, but faithfulness remains a measuring stick by which we are to examine ourselves. Am I walking in faithful humility with God? As Elisabeth Elliot says further, “Lord, deliver me from the delusion of imagining that my desire is to serve You, when my real desire is the distinction of serving in some way which others admire.”

In the end, it is really His smile that I want to see. And for this, consistent humility in the dailyness of life is required. It is offering all of our moments to Him, especially those that are not spectacular, of which there are many if you cut apples slices for a living. It is loving the things that He loves, doing justice, walking humbly. May the Lord give mothers today the grit to do what He requires.