It’s The Little Things

It’s true, little things mean a lot.  Sometimes, you can serve God by thinking of someone else and letting them know that you are thinking about them.

When you have a chance, today, do something kind for someone.  Has anyone ever done something kind or generous for you that was unexpected?  The odds are the answer to that would be yes.  It may not have even been a big thing, but it was something. 

When I was with WestHill’s Youth Group a few years ago, my birthday was coming up.  I didn’t really give it much thought.  At the time, I probably already had about 52 of them.  I didn’t really think that the Youth Group would make an effort to do anything special for me because I usually don’t make any effort to let anyone know it was coming up.  But, my daughter knew. 

Paige, had secretly communicated to each kid in the Youth Group to write me a note.  Not just a Happy Birthday wish.  But a note telling me something about me that they appreciated.  She did this with enough thought and effort ahead of time, so that she could gather these notes together and put them into a folder.  Some of the notes were rich in color with pictures and kind thoughts of appreciation.  Many were a short penned reflection of gratitude of time spent with them, “thank you for taking care of us” or a favorite memory.  I received over twenty of these messages in my folder.

When Paige handed it to me and told me that it was from the Youth Group,  I opened it with curiosity.  Once I opened it, I saw right away what it was and I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t read any of them.  I was so moved with the gesture I teared up right away.  I couldn’t read them.  She said, “Dad, read them.  They wrote them for you.”  So, I gave it another shot and I pushed through it.  To have all these notes from the kids I learned to love, filled my heart with the rewards of joy they each brought into my life.  The kids told me things that they may not have necessarily expressed to me, if not initiated by my daughter.  So, I now encourage you to do the same.  The notes were a small, simple thing to do with a maximum effect.  I was moved by the gesture.  The idea may not have come from the kids, but the words and sincere thoughts did. 

I say all this to say, what if you took some time today to do the same thing for one, or several people?  It doesn’t have to be a note.  It could be a phone call.  Think outside the box and let someone know how much you appreciate them.  When you have a chance, today, do something kind for someone. 

We have the common bond of Christ in our church.  He moves us to act for the sake of others on his behalf.  We can all agree His act of obedience and sacrifice was an ultimate display of selflessness.  He was thinking of each of us when he submitted to His Father’s will.  The least we can do is be selfless for others in ways He moves us to do. 

A few weeks ago, a couple in our church, I’ll call them the Shmorensons to protect their identity.  They went out visiting people in the church.  Wearing protective gear, they pulled up outside of our house on a beautiful day and handed us pre-packaged Rice Krispy Treats with the note written on them, “God loves you.”  What a treat it was!  Not just to have a great snack, but to unexpectedly see them.  What a pleasant surprise to be thought of by them.  I thought about the effort behind what they did and the time that it took and that they made the time to do it.  That was so kind and thoughtful and it made our day.  Any of us can do something like that for each other. 

When you have a chance today, write someone an unexpected note and don’t just wish them a good day, tell them why you thought about them.  Tell them how important they are to you.  Share a memory that you both have and how they made you feel during that time.  You may be the very thing they needed to get through the day.  It’s nice to be thought of.  It’s even better when someone takes the time to let you know they were thinking about you.  It is so true, little things mean a lot. 

May God bless you and keep you safe until we can worship together again under the same roof.

1 John 4: 7-11

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.

Pastor Michael