You’ve heard it said before, and probably multiple different ways.
“It’s the little things in life”.
Or maybe,
“Enjoy the little things, because one day you will realize they were the big things”.
The root comes from finding joy in everyday moments and experiences and not looking only to the big events in life as joyful. We can always count on kids to do this for us. A surprise trip to the park after school will without fail make my four-year-old daughter yell from her car seat, “this is the happiest I’ve ever been in ages”. Mom Win.
It can be hard to remember that the small things matter as a mom of young children. The seemingly insignificant blanket forts, the less than thrilling hours on the trampoline, the changing of baby doll clothes and repairing of Lego villages. While all these “events” seem like memories that will be easily forgotten or looked over, I believe most parents who have gone before my generation in child rearing will tell you it’s the little things that matter. They will tell you it’s the “little” things that make a difference. It’s the “little things” that they remember. It’s the constant little things that make them who they are and help shape their character and personality. While most of the world will tell you do big things for them and with them, those who have gone before will see your small acts of love and say “Well done” because they know what really matters.
It's also the little things that advance the kingdom of God. It’s the seemingly insignificant dinner for a friend with a new baby. It’s the less than thrilling hours volunteering to help in the kid’s classroom or on their sports team. It’s the giving of clothes to those in need and the repairing of a neighbor’s yard after a storm. While these acts seem like sacrifices that will be easily forgotten or looked over, I believe God, who has gone before us in acts of service will tell you “well-done”. He will tell you it’s the little things that make the difference, because he knows what really matters.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of you master”. Matthew 25:21
Let’s look to scripture on this.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:12
“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen.” Zechariah 4:10. As parents of young children, we are in the season of "small things". We should look at these days and years as days of shaping and molding us into shapes that look more like Jesus.
“It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:32. This is they type of unexpected and unexplainable growth we should and will see in our lives if we obediently follow Jesus. When we can bee obedient and patient and humble in the small things, we will see tremendous growth to be able to handle the big things.
“Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” James 3:4 This chapter goes on to talk about how our tounge is like the rudder, explaining how important our words are. Give James 3 a read!
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9 Paul is talking here about how the smallest amuont of something bad can make a big difference and have a big influence. Be aware of our much negative influence you are allowing into your home and heart.
And finally, my favorite story about the little things…“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” John 6:9
You see, here, Jesus takes something seemingly small and multiplies it to the 1000th degree. God can and will use the smallest acts of obedience and kindness, and multiply them to show love to thousands.
So momma, be faithful and steadfast in the small things, because there is a big reward for those of us who chose to follow Jesus and teach our children to do the same.
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