We can easily overlook the countless details in our lives that allow us opportunities to grow in holiness. Each day we are given endless opportunities to show our love to others, which is how we can show our love to God. It is in those opportunities that we are called to focus some of our attention to the details in which we show our love. It is in those details, the effort in which we perform them, that we can grow in holiness as we offer up each ounce of effort to perform a loving act towards those around us.Those small moments and tiny actions can show great love towards others, and in turn, be the perfect opportunity to sanctify ourselves in the process.
Focusing on the details can begin at home. Our homes are a bustling environment of its own where a family is called to sanctify itself through the way each member interacts with one another. The home is a place where we teach, learn, love, play, communicate, resolve, and grow as individuals. Through the countless daily actions we perform we are given the chance to grow in charity and love with those around us. So many of the ordinary moments from our day to day can be details where we can add a little more thought into how we showcase our love and kindness to others. In doing so we also are showing God how much we love him by the acts of love which we give to his other children whom he so dearly loves. It is the effort within those details which show God our selfless love to his other children. Through each action and gesture towards others, we grow in holiness because it is through those selfless acts of love, the attention to detail, where we give of our time, energy, and thought that we allow ourselves to grow in holiness. It is saying, “Lord, I am going to do this nice gesture even though it requires a little more energy because I love you and I love your other child.”
As a homemaker, our goal should be to create a home where each member may feel comfortable to be their whole self just as God created them to be and each may grow in virtue in order to live a life according to God’s will. To do this one must create a positive and loving environment where personal growth may be fostered and modeled through one's daily routine. One of the ways we can create a loving and positive environment for those in our home is through the little details in the things we do for each family member. Perhaps it is taking the time to set up a tray with a nice dinner plate, utensils, and a little flower or note for a sick family member instead of handing them a disposable paper plate with their meal on it. It could be writing a little warm note on the napkin in your child's lunch bag. Taking the time to get ourselves ready in the morning can also be one small way we show others we care. Taking the time to brush our teeth, get dressed, and present ourselves to those in our home in a put together manner isn’t about making a fashion statement. It is about giving those we live with our best self, our clean self, and showing them that we want to be presentable for them. Saying good morning with a fresh breath versus morning breath is far more pleasing to those we embrace and is a small act of consideration towards others. It is far more pleasing and agreeable to be around someone who is clean and put together than someone who is sweaty from a workout or is still in the pjs and bed hair. That doesn’t mean one needs to downe the latest trends, but taking a few minutes in the morning to dress and get ready for the day can really be an act of charity to those around us. If you would put effort into getting dressed for a date, to meet a friend, a business meeting, or meet someone important, why wouldn’t you put a little effort into looking your best for the most important people in your life, your family.
Growing in holiness within the details doesn’t apply only to our family members but to all those who enter our home and to those we encounter outside. When it comes to welcoming those that enter our homes as guests we are presented with numerous opportunities to add a little more attention to the details in how we show our hospitality. Offering up the extra work that goes into taking care of our guests is exactly how Christ calls us to sanctify ourselves when we open our homes up to others. It’s those early morning rises to prepare breakfast or setting the table nicely for a coffee or tea time. It is cleaning the bathrooms before they arrive or tidying up the toys and clutter not because you want the home to look like a magazine cover but because you want to create a welcoming and relaxing environment for your guests. Naturally when there is disorder and chaos an environment becomes more displeasing and even at times uncomfortable to be in. Taking the time to present our homes in an orderly and harmonious way is about creating that pleasing ambiance that all who enter may feel comfortable and attracted too. The details in opening our homes to others are found in the small acts of hospitality towards each of our guests and in the gestures we do that show them we want them to feel special and loved. As hosts anticipating our guests' needs, being considerate of each person’s level of comfort, and creating a pleasing environment should be our goal when it comes to how we go the extra mile to show our guests our love and selfless hospitality to them.
Ultimately, the secret to having loving details with others is effort. Our effort can speak volumes to others. It is our effort in our actions that says to another how much we can and how willing we are to show them we care. Our actions will always speak louder than our words, which is why it is crucial within a home that we are mindful of the things we do for others and showcase how we truly care for someone. We must be careful to not fall into the habit of showcasing all of our emotions in our actions and how we treat others when our emotions do the opposite of showcasing love and kindness. When we are upset with someone, slamming the door or rudely passing a glass of water doesn’t show how much we love the person, on the contrary it is an immature way of nonverbally telling them how angry we are with them. It is a rude and uncharitable way of communicating how upset we may be when it is in a moment of frustration with a family member where we need to be more diligent to showcase how much love we have for them despite the anger we hold within. A person will feel far more love and acceptance when they are treated with kindness and respect in tense moments than when they are treated with harsh and unloving behavior.
It is much easier to perform small and loving gestures when we are in a good mood or full of energy, but love is not something we show when things are easy. Love is sacrifice and giving of ourselves through the extra attention to detail in our gestures towards others and is exactly how we sanctify ourselves. It is when we are tired, short on time, or in a bad mood that we put all of that aside and truly give our best self that we grow in holiness. When we choose to show others love in those small gestures, in the little details within our daily lives, we begin to spread the light Christ taught us to share with one another. Through those small actions and attention our homes grow in strength and love. Each individual not only feels loved, but will reciprocate that love to those around them. When we do a good deed to others, expecting nothing in return and merely giving more of ourselves out of love, that same love will continue to trickle and soon each individual's cup will overflow. Growing in holiness lies within the details where we willingly give more of ourselves because we are freely going the extra mile to show others, and God, just how much love we can give.
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