As I grow old and look back on my life, I realize it hasn’t been the major accomplishments or heroic deeds of mine or of the people God has placed in my life that bring fond memories and that have had the biggest impact on my life. No, it’s the little things that seemed so trivial at the time that mean the most to me now.
There is an old song that describes some of the highlights of my more than fifty year relationship with my wife. “Blow me a kiss from across the room. Say I look nice when I’m not. Touch my hair as you pass my chair. Little thing mean a lot. Give me your arm as we cross the street. Call me at six on the dot. A line a day while you’re far away.. Little things mean a lot. Give me your hand when I’ve lost my way. Give me your shoulder to cry on. Whether the day is cloudy or gray, give me your heart to rely on. Send me the warmth of a secret smile to show me you haven’t forgot. Now and forever, that’s always and ever, little things mean a lot.”
My brothers in Christ picked me up early Saturday morning for our weekly fellowship and breakfast. When I got back home one of my sisters in Christ called to check on me and we shared what is going on in our lives and had more than a few good laughs. Those events might seem mundane to some people but they had a tremendous impact on my spirits and my mood.
Sometimes God gives Christians challenging missions to accomplish for Him, but most times it is the little acts of kindness we do without much thought that have the greatest impact on others and are the most pleasing to God. Jesus described this exchange with His followers at judgement. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom created for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of these least of my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Even a smile or sincere compliment can have a lasting effect on someone’s life. I do my best to make everyone I encounter feel better when we part, even if the encounter only lasted a minute or two. I challenge you to make every little thing you do count.