The Little Things (05/26/2024)

My husband has a large vase in his closet full of coins. Every day, when he empties his pockets, he deposits the spare change he collected that day. He started this habit years ago because he hated change in his pocket. He found that if he did that all year, in the spring, the contents of that jar provided the money for his gardening purchases. Some years it was big enough to afford a tree; some years it covered only smaller purchases like perennials and a load of topsoil. It was a win-win for him; his pockets weren’t rattling, and he had funding for his favorite hobby. Little things add up.

Little things do add up. Not just the positive; little negative things add up, as well. I’ve witnessed more than one emotional explosion over a little thing; truth is, I’ve also been the one to explode. But then, as apologies after the fact unfolded, the truth was that it wasn’t that one little thing, it was all the other little things that didn’t seem to matter at the time, but they did because little things add up.

One of the lessons of the journey that we need to learn is that little things add up. Little things matter. They merit attention; they merit reflection time. We need to bring all of the little things to the LORD daily, giving thanks for the small and seemingly insignificant blessings of the day and seeking healing for the small and seemingly insignificant slights or stings of the day. The first grows our sense of gratitude which nurtures our faith and hope; the second grows our sense of dependence upon the LORD and the LORD’s unfathomable love for us. In prayer, when we bring the little things for reflection, we recognize that we are not alone in the good times nor the bad. We can celebrate the good and leave the bad at the foot of the cross, putting it down, and leaving us room for more good things.

The second lesson of the journey that we need to learn is like the first, we need to learn that little things add up not just to us as receivers but to those with whom we live and love. The good merit doing; the bad merit sincere apologies. Every day we have an endless opportunity to do good a little at a time. Few of us will achieve world renown for our acts of loving kindness that day; but that shouldn’t keep us from doing them. Isn’t doing them just because we can reason enough? And every day we need to recognize the little hurtful things we’ve done, the slights, the stings, and sincerely apologize, seeking both the one impacted as well as our LORD’s forgiveness. Just because an act isn’t a prosecutable felony doesn’t mean it wasn’t hurtful. Let us recognize that the little things matter, for good or for bad, and be responsible in how we live.

They are just little things. But that doesn’t mean they are easy. That’s lesson number three. It’s the little things that at times become the most difficult. We can muster the courage for the big events and challenges plus we usually have others encouraging us on. But for those little, mundane things, there are no cheers. But we are called to do them with faith in our loving LORD, with hope for what the LORD can make of our small gestures, and with love for our LORD and the others with whom we share moments.

As we journey on, let us take notice of the little things and remember, little things add up.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.