Leadership Thought: Little Things Are Big Things When Done in Love.

Dear Friends,

We have all said or sung those words, "little things mean a lot," words that sprang from a 50’s love song by Kitty Kallen. l recently had the joy of experiencing just how truthful these often-uttered words really are.

While stepping out of the elevator at Riverview Hospital, I witnessed a mother and a daughter in the hall expressing concern over the news they had recently received regarding a doctor's prognosis regarding a family member. The daughter had her arms wrapped around her mother trying to console her. I realized I had a real opportunity for ministry. I commented that I had witnessed their tearful embrace, and I wondered if I could pray for them. They were caught off guard, but quickly the daughter commented how much she would appreciate prayer. I asked them how I could pray, and they briefly related the circumstances of their concern. I prayed for them and their loved one and after a warm embrace I headed for the parking lot, but not before they profusely expressed their gratitude for my taking time to pray with them.

My encounter with them lasted less than a few minutes, but during that time I felt like I was truly being used by God, as I sought to offer sympathy to this grieving mom and daughter. As I reflected on the experience, I was wonderfully reminded that in God's scheme of things "little things do mean a lot." It took only a few moments to minister to this grieving mother and daughter, and yet in that brief time span, I not only brought hope and encouragement to them, but I experienced the joy of knowing that God had used me to make a small difference in two lives.

All too often we tend to under estimate the value of the small things that we do as His servants, but then I discover that it is those small and seemingly insignificant expressions of love, that God has a way of magnifying their value.

A young lad had only a few loaves and fishes to offer Jesus, but from God's perspective when these gifts were placed in His hands, those fish and loaves would be greatly multiplied, and they would satisfy the hungry crowd gathered on that Capernaum hillside. Yes, it is true that "little things really do man a lot" and “those random acts of kindness" when performed in the spirit of Christ's love have a way of being multiplied in value. 

Someone will often ask me, "Tom, do you remember a particular thing I said or did," and when they go on to describe the words or action I will often confess, "No, I don't remember." Then the person will explain how my words or actions impacted their lives, and I am always surprised to discover the impact of those seemingly tiny and insignificant expressions of love.

It  was Mother Teresa who said, "Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love."

So toay and every day,  let’s be on the lookout for those little opportunities to serve, knowing that even the smallest and most insignificant act of kindness  will be multiplied in value when it is done in His love. 

Yours in faith and friendship,

Pastor Tom

P.S. "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."