When you want to do something, and you do it, that is serving. When you do from a sense of duty, without the joy, that is not serving. There is a big difference between serving from your heart and serving from obligation. Serve because you love to. Serve because it is your joy to do so.

Of course, there is value in your washing the dishes even when your heart isn't in it. You are cleaning up a mess. Someone has to. How much better it is when you can feel: "I love to serve my family. Right now washing dishes is my way to show love to my family. They leave their cups in the sink, and I am happy to find them there in the sink, and I am happy to wash their dishes. I am happy to be part of a family."

One way or another, beloved, when your service meets without resistance from you, one way or another, your family will serve you with the same open heart. Happily or unhappily, your family reflects you.

When you wash the dishes, and resent it, or nag about it, what are you creating?

I am saying that the frame of mind in which you do the dishes makes all the difference in the world to you and to your family. Perhaps, if you see your little service as a privilege, as an honor, then others will see service, including washing the dishes, in the same way you do.

Tell Me, is there any good reason why everything you do cannot be a joy to you? Think of love, and everything you do will be a joy to you. And there is that little clause of Mine: "All you do you do for Me." Is there something that your heart would not be happy to do for Me? What would be too much for Me to ask you to do? What could be too much for you to do for Me?

Right now I ask you to smile. Will you do that? How hard is that to do for Me? Ah, there, I see your smile smiling at Me for the joy you give to Me.

Right now, if I ask you to sweep the floor, can you find it within yourself to sweep the floor for Me? Is it hard to do when you do it for Me?

Right now, if I ask you to be patient where you are not, can you not be patient when I ask you to be? What is there that I can ask you to do that is too much for you to do? Anything?

When I ask you to be generous today, can you do it? Will you do it?

And if I ask you to be generous to yourself today, will you be generous with your love to yourself? Begrudging is not generous to yourself or anyone. Feeling sorry for yourself is not generous to yourself. Not at all. Be glad you can do whatever you can do. And do it.

However you portray yourself, others will portray themselves to you.

Be good-natured. This is how you restore the world to its balance. Smile at the world. Smile at yourself. Smile at Me.

So, today, if there is something that needs to be done, and you need to do it, and you are not happy to do it, can you sell yourself on it? Can you persuade yourself to do it graciously? Can you be an example to yourself, beloved? Can you be happy today and happy to do whatever you are called on to do? Will you do it with a smile and make yourself happy?