As You Wish

How many times have you said “yes” to something, but your body language or attitude says the opposite? That’s a struggle I know all too well. Doing things joyfully doesn’t always come naturally—but it’s something I’m learning (and re-learning) every day.

Thankfully, we’ve had plenty of role models. St. Teresa of Calcutta reminded us: “Wash the plate not because it is dirty, nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.” Even Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan gives us this lesson—when the Samaritan asked the innkeeper to care for the injured man, the innkeeper lovingly accepted the chore being asked of him.

Even in literature and movies, this shows up. Samwise Gamgee is always cooking, cleaning, and carrying Frodo’s burdens in The Lord of the Rings. Mary Poppins sings her way through chores and turns them into games. But the one that sticks with me most is Westley from The Princess Bride. No matter what Buttercup asked of him, he smiled and said, “As you wish.” Even when she asked him to fetch a pitcher that was right above her own head, he didn’t sigh, roll his eyes, or grumble—he simply did it with love.

That small phrase—“As you wish”—isn’t just romantic. It’s a reflection of Christlike love. Westley shows us that even the simplest tasks, when done with love, carry the power of sacrifice and service.

Maybe that’s the key for all of us: not just to get the job done, but to do it out of love. Because when we act in love, even chores and inconveniences can become holy.