I was unsure of what to write about this week, and then I decided on a short story. This is a short story I wrote about serving called "To Serve More." I wrote it some time ago, somewhere in the year 2014, edited it slightly, and still believe its message rings true to those of us who seek to serve Christ with our everything. I hope it blesses you!

A young woman approached the throne of her King, longing to understand how she could be a better servant. “My King,” she said with a gracious bow, “how may I better serve you?”

The King smiled at her question, and studied the top of her bowed head, love filling His heart. “Love Me more,” He stated simply. The young woman looked up at her King, seeing the love in His eyes. “Love you more? More than what?” she inquired.

The King smiled, and extended His hand to her. She hesitated, unsure of whether she wanted to take it or not. “My Child,” He whispered, “if you wish to serve Me, you must love Me more.”

The young woman was confused, and could not understand the King’s request.

“But my King,” she insisted, “more than what?”

The King did not answer, but instead studied her eyes, and continued to stretch out His hand. The young woman grew frustrated as her question remained unanswered, and refused His hand.

She bowed gracefully and exited the throne room. Love Him more? More than what? She pondered the King’s words, and finally believed to understand what He meant.

Returning to the throne room the next day, the young woman bowed before her King.

“My King, I know what I must love less,” she began. “I have brought You a box filled with various tokens, all symbolizing the things I must love less in order to serve You more.”

The young woman opened a small wooden box, filled with various treasures. The first piece she selected was a wedding ring. “Surely I must love my husband less, if I desire to serve you more,” she explained. She showed the King her ring, the golden band glimmering in the reflection of light.

The King watched.

Placing the ring back in the box, the next item she selected was a small doll, made of yarn and fabric. “If I long to serve you more, my King, I must love my children less.” She placed the doll in a sitting position on her palm, letting the King examine the small toy.

Placing the doll back in the box, the young woman next produced a thimble. “Of course,” she continued, “if I long to serve you more, I must love my work less.” She let the thimble take its natural place on her thumb, and displayed it before her King.

The King continued to watch.

The final item she produced was a small daisy, the petals white and the center a golden yellow. “The final thing I must love less, my King, is anything else that resides within my heart. My friends, my family, everything else I consider more important than You.”

Holding the daisy by the stem, she let the King examine its petals. She placed the daisy back inside the box, finding its place among the thimble, doll and wedding ring.

She closed the box and laid it at her King's feet.

The young woman backed away from the throne and stood a short distance away from her box, bowing her head as the box rested at the King's feet. After a long duration of silence, the young woman lifted her head, wondering if the King had found her offering pleasing.

The King now stood before her, with all of His beauty, strength and excellence surrounding Him.

Instead of her box, however, He held another box. He took her hands, and placed them around the sides of it.

“My Daughter,” the King said. “It is not about what you offer, but what you hold back. Love Me more than what lays inside of this box.”

The young woman studied her King’s face, captivated by the grace and mercy that filled His eyes.

She lifted the lid of the box, and gasped at what lay inside.

She lifted the mirror and gazed at her own reflection.