It's the Little Things...

That make all the difference.

In a pre-marital counseling session some time ago a bride-to-be remarked in reference to fighting that it is the little things that lead to the biggest arguments. She was so right. It’s never a really important issue that starts the ball but simple things like a glass left on a table, a towel on the floor, toothpaste squeezed from the middle, lights left on you know the IMPORTANT stuff. It’s those things that make for the biggest fights between people not just couples. More feelings are hurt and more pain inflicted by the little things than we want to remember. However, I want to suggest another side to the little things.

It is the little things that make the most difference. This past weekend I was watching as Elizabeth graduated from college walking across the platform and receiving her diploma almost skipping down the grass isle back to her seat. I was proud. That surprised me. What did I have to be proud about? I didn’t do any of the work or live through the actual experience but I was proud for her. I probably was not as proud at my own graduations as I was Saturday for my oldest child. It was a simple thing that made the difference.

Sunday was Mother’s day and my brother was here. My Mother said it was the first time in 25+ years that we had been together as a family with her on Mother’s day. I had no idea it had been so long. Barbara’s Mother Gail was here as well on Mother’s day. Just being together on Mother’s day a simple thing really it made a difference.

Sunday evening the whole clan went to River Street to see the WWII monument. My brother and I had purchased a memorial brick for my Father as he is a WWII vet. We had not told him about it. So, we waited until both of us were here to go and see it. My Father was stunned. So much so that he told all that would talk to him (stranger, family, friend, post, tree plant you get it)that he had a brick with his name on it. I had no idea. It’s just a brick with his name on it. It’s the little things that make the difference.

Sunday morning I spoke from Matthew 15 regarding the Canannite woman who approached Jesus to heal her daughter. It was not easy gaining access and getting past all of the cultural issues to get to Jesus but she did through persistence and pestering. It’s a simple story not very long and as I lived with it through the week a simple, powerful fact emerged in my mind. This woman had no cultural, relational, spiritual, right to approach Jesus, speak to him much less ask for anything. But she was desperate and in the end simply says on her knees after the verbal sparring and pushing for position “Lord, help me.”

How simple is that?

What struck me is she recognized who she was who she was talking to and she appealed not from her position or power or gifts or ability but to the character of Christ for her help. She came to him, “Lord, help me.” Jesus says to her, “you have great faith,” and her daughter was healed. I read a devotional from Revelation 2 by Max Lucado that clicked this together. What I have not gotten over is at the great judgment I will be like this woman and have nothing, no right, no achievement no nothing by which to appear before the Creator of the universe. All I will have is the character of Christ to count on. The hope of Grace extended from the Savior to save me. Nothing more, nothing less just like this woman and just like this woman He will save me because of faith. The character of Christ I can count on it. Simple isn’t it?

It’s the little things that make all the difference!