The Small Things Matter…

I read these words from Mother Teresa, the woman who chose to serve in the worst areas of India in order to show God’s love in a tangible way. She served in a leper colony with grace, joy and passion. I wanted to write the words in a subtle, almost invisible way as Mother Teresa never really wanted the attention to be on her. She wanted God and His love to be the center of all she did. Here are her words:

Be faithful in small things,
because it is in them that your strength lies.

– Mother Teresa 1997

We live in a globally accessible world, where we can literally buy anything from anyone, in any part of the world. We can see every corner of the globe through video, commerce, and travel. We can chat with people on the other side of the world, and talk as if they are right next door. It is a truly incredible time to be alive. I see these expansive opportunities leaving their mark on us. Many people feel overwhelmed by it all. Where to focus, how to build their own space in this world, even how to handle all the opportunities that are available. Where to get started, where to draw lines and parameters for their lives, and sometimes just where to let things end.

I take comfort in Mother Teresa’s words. She reminds us that no matter how big the world may seem, it is the small things we do that matter. Small things are what we can control, what we can handle every day, AND what we can accomplish to reach completion. In this huge world of ours we often discount the small things in life. Making the bed each morning, sweeping the floors, brushing our teeth, or even clearing up the dishes after a meal. Saying hello to someone in the grocery store, or smiling at a baby on the train. Holding hands or giving someone we care about a bear hug. It is the little things that make a difference, life is not all about grand gestures or huge productions. Being faithful in the little things means we can be trusted with bigger things.

Today it is raining, so I am taking great joy in God watering my plants, especially the new bulbs I planted. I made our bed, checked the kitty litter, brushed my teeth and now I am finishing this post. It may not be a start of the day that will sends reverberating waves across the globe, and yet we never know how the little things we do have great impact. Mother Teresa dared to hold hands and hug people with leprosy. She knew that there is power in human touch, even for a disease that is infectious. She knew, and reminds us, that it is the little things that make us who we are.

So today, take joy in the little things in your life and know that small steps make us good at being who we are every day! For it is the little things people remember…because the little things truly matter.