It was a strange comfort to see our Lord thanking me for my pain, yet He singled out my youth as if it were a special gift. Often I have thought of young men who rush about with great noise, seeking praise in the market square, while I sat still and worked quietly. They call their haste wisdom, but they do not see that the Lord values the quiet offering of time given freely.

I ask you to look at your own hands and see what they are doing now. Do not be ashamed of the small work you do without asking for a reward. Offer your young days as well as your old ones, knowing that He sees them all, and that every moment spent in His service is counted with joy.