Samuel Chadwick (1860-1932) was a preacher in the United Kingdom. When he was a small boy he disliked having to shine his father’s shoes every day. His distaste for his chore was so strong that he told his Sunday school teacher about it.

The teacher’s reply was this: “Why not think of the shoes as Jesus’ shoes?”

Chadwick took the teacher’s advice and it made all the difference in the world. Shining the shoes was now a privilege rather than a dreaded chore.

Chadwick often used this experience as an illustration of unselfish love.

Whatever you do, if love is your motivation, you will be able to do it with sincere joy. No matter how mundane your days are, if you do things as if you are doing them for Jesus, you will do them better.

Spending time with people who annoy you or with whom you are simply not compatible suddenly becomes less of a burden if you see them as equally loved and created by the God who loved and created you.

Love truly does cover all things, making even the worst and least desirable situation worthwhile.