The Small Things

Today is Sunday, the Lord's day. This particular Sunday is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the day of the year we give thanks. Everyday should be Sunday, and everyday should be Thanksgiving. 

Everyday should start and end with God, in the form of prayer. This is how we speak to God. And each of those prayers should start and end with gratitude to God. What you are specifically grateful for is specific to you, but what isn't specific to you is the countless blessings that God has bestowed upon you. 

It's easy to go through the monotony of life and take things for granted. Perhaps I'm just projecting here. Obviously, I'm projecting here, as these words are a projection of my thoughts. There is certainly a chance that you don't think anything like me, and have never taken any of God's blessings for granted. If that is the case, God blessed you!

I'd like to think I don't take things for granted, but even being aware that it's easy to take things for granted doesn't prevent you from taking things for granted. 

Although knowing is half the battle, response is the other half. Just because you know that you need to get to bed doesn't always mean you go to bed. 

So how do we not take things for granted? Am I asking you, or am I asking myself? 

Well, since you're not going to answer, I believe it's to start and end everyday with prayer, and express sincere gratitude for God's blessings aloud so he can hear you. Don't make God read your mind, talk to him. He is listening. After all, in the beginning was the Word.

I don't know any historical reasoning behind fasting, but I think fasting acts as a reminder of God's blessings. It's during times of suffering that we should learn to appreciate the things we have. How easy is it in the modern age to take a meal for granted? It's likely that if you are reading this that you haven't missed any meals due to poverty. You are likely well nourished. In fact, you are likely over-nourished to the point of obesity. 

I've heard it said that "to live is to suffer." But is that true? Sure, there will be some suffering in life. But I think suffering just applies perspective to life. We only realize we are suffering because we have experienced blessings and joy. We only know the dark because we have seen the light. And that light is the reflection of the salvation of our savior Jesus the Christ.

In church today, the sermon was about being aware of the small things. 

The largest fire in history began with a little spark. The greatest invention began with a vague idea. Eternal salvation came with the sacrifice of the perfect lamb. But those are big examples, what about the little things that we all take for granted? Telling your child you love them. Helping a neighbor. Doing a good deed. Everyone has the ability to make a positive impact, no matter how wretched of a sinner you are.

There's a book titled Atomic Habits that presents the idea of doing little things everyday until they become habit. Roughly 40% of everything we do is out of habit. We don't even think about it, we just do it as part of a routine. Why not try to do just one good deed everyday until it becomes a habit? I mean, what do you have to lose?  

People think they are irrelevant. That what they do doesn't matter. But they do matter. You matter! Not only can you be better, but you can make the people around you better, or at least make them feel better, even if it's just for a brief moment in time. 

Life is just an accumulation of brief moments in time, consisting of a handful of big things and a lot of little things. Statistically speaking, it's the little things that matter most.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.

For want of a shoe the horse was lost.

For want of a horse the rider was lost.

For want of a rider the message was lost.

For want of a message the battle was lost.

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

I hope you have an amazing day! God bless.