Cherishing the Small Things

They go by completely unnoticed. The small things, that is. Or, perhaps we notice the small things without stopping to acknowledge them. In the dictionary, acknowledge is defined like this:

1. to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of

2. to show or express recognition or realization of

3. to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of

4. to show or express appreciation or gratitude for

5. to indicate or make known the receipt of

6. to take notice of or reply to

7. Law to confirm as binding or of legal force

It would be impossible to truly acknowledge all of the small things. In fact, there’s a statistic available somewhere that says that our brains only acknowledge a ridiculously small percentage of everything we actually hear. If our brain didn’t filter so selectively, we would go insane, literally. God gave us a very necessary involuntary hearing filter to protect us. However, we sometimes choose to employ a voluntary filter regarding our hearing. Yes? If not us, then certainly our children! LOL!

I’m terrible with this. If Mike and I are on an extended drive, I’ll often take a book along. If it’s a good book, I get incredibly involved in my reading, and I elect to employ my voluntary filter. LOL! Many times, Mike will have to say, “Are you listening?” And I have to admit that, in fact, I am NOT listening at all. There are times when Mike really needs a chance to communicate with me, and I brush him off or ignore him in order to give my attention to my book.

I think it’s very similar with the small things in life. The small things can be anything from the pure, unadulterated joy found in the smile of a young child to a small intuitive “feeling” we find in the pit of our stomach. A small thing can be the first bright, sunny, warm, comforting, invigorating day of the Spring Season or the first miniscule snowflake that lands on your nose in the Winter Season. A smile from a stranger. A sincere hug, full of love and compassion. A hand-written thank you note. A close parking spot at the mall. The perfect piece of fabric to finish the quilt. Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola Classic at the beginning of pregnancy. The list could go on and on and on…

My point is this:

Many times, I get so caught up in my good book, that I overlook my husband’s need to communicate. Similarly, many times we get so caught up in life, that we, the Bride of Christ, overlook our Husband’s need to communicate through the small things.

It could be that God is trying to talk to you, but He’s having a little bit of a hard time competing with your good book, your life. The stranger who smiled *really* needs an invitation to church. The close parking spot at the mall was a small hug from your Heavenly Father. The perfect piece of fabric finishes the quilt that will forever become a comforting part of a family’s experience in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit.

The first bright, sunny, warm, comforting, invigorating day of the Spring Season is an annual reminder that we serve the God whose mercies are new every morning. The God who is. The God who was. The God who will always be. All praise to Him!

If you made it this far, my prayer is that you will be hugged in the coming days by acknowledging the small things gifted to you by your Heavenly Father. Be blessed, my friends.