The Little Things

Monday, September 19^th, 2011 8:53p.m.

I am one of those people who tends to focus on the big parts of life. Mountains are some of my favorite portions of God’s creation. I could spend hours just gazing out over the wide expanse of ocean, listening to the crashing waves. I love thunderstorms, while just a light rain is apt to simply annoy me. In another aspect, I never feel as though I accomplished anything for the day unless there is a visible, obvious change in my surroundings; whether it’s a clean room, organized papers, or a to-do list with boxes checked off. One positive way this affects me is that I rarely have trouble seeing the big picture. While others are fretting and griping about details I can usually turn my focus towards what is really happening in the larger scheme of things, and
find encouragement in that.

However, such an inclination to see only the big things often causes me to miss out on many wonderful little blessings God sends my way each day. Now that I am back in Haiti, where such modern conveniences as running water, electricity, and vehicles at my disposal (things I normally wouldn’t think twice about) are a rarity, if found at all, I am finding it is much easier to notice and be grateful for the so-called “little things.”

When a long, 105°F day passes and no one is selling ice, then evening comes and few little blocks are found and bought, cold water running down my throat is sweeter than the richest beverage.
When living in a country where the fight for survival causes most people to think only of themselves, and while visiting at a neighbor’s house everyone jumps out of their chairs to offer me a place to sit, the kind act is more cherished than if a king had offered me his throne. When the air is hot and humid, the sun is broiling hot, and you can’t even find cool water to pour over your head a small rain can offer more relief than the most modern AC unit. When a whole day passes and not one storage room is organized, not one paper is filed, but a little boy has been tickled and made to laugh as he hasn’t maybe in weeks, and a little girl has been cuddled and told she is loved, the day is worth more to me than a thousand when every checklist is completed.

And suddenly, as I am made aware of each of these little blessings, my perspective changes. A beautiful flower placed near my pillow to greet my eyes as I awaken, a smile across the yard from a friend, a tiny hummingbird lighting on a tree just above my head, a melted piece of candy
brought especially for me, held tightly in a child’s hand so as not to be lost…and my eyes are opened. All of a sudden these things are not so little any more They have become to me the grandest, most wonderful occurrences of my days, and I am learning to savor each one.

After all, when Elijah was downtrodden, questioning his faith, and longing for a word from his God, any word, God was not in the windstorm. He was not in the earthquake. He was not in the fire. He was in the gentle whisper. Sometimes we are so bent on finding God in the big things that we miss Him along the way in all the “little” blessings He daily puts before our eyes. So often we feel as though God is not answering us, not even hearing us, when really He is right there, waiting for us to stop straining our necks to search for Him in the thunder and lightning and notice His presence in the drop of rain on our face.