As much as we say it’s not, life is made up of the little things.
Several years back, my sister caught wind that New Year’s Eve was difficult for me. Maybe I wrote a blog about it, or I told her directly — I can’t remember. However, what I do remember is that she dropped off a gift — a jar with little note cards that you could write on and put in the jar.
Initially, I didn’t know why she gave it to me. Then she said, “It’s for you to write down the good things that happened this year so you can review them at the end of the year. That way, New Year’s Eve won’t be so hard.” I was so touched.
Fast forward a few years, and I’m sitting in my room writing and wrestling within myself. A lot has happened this year, and some things have been wonderful, but other things have been really hard.
I’ve been struggling to keep my mind on the truth. I’ll listen to a sermon, write down a verse, and then thirty minutes later; I’m questioning God all over again. Honestly, I don’t know how or why He puts up with me. I keep telling myself, “He is good, and He does good.” But my circumstances don’t feel good right now, and my heart feels a little crushed.
While writing, I happen to spot the jar across the room. I realize I have a lot of little notes to add, but before I do, I began to pull the old notes out:
- Coffee with Linda
- Belly laughs with Jess
- New friends
- Board member for WCK
- A trip to see Aunt Jeanette and Uncle Steve
- A pastry with Mom
- Storytelling with Connie
- A movie over FaceTime with Rachel
- Cooking with Linda, Karine, Diane
- Time to run
Each note made me smile as I remembered each memory and/or each person. I also remembered that where I am this year was where I hoped and prayed I’d be the previous year.
It’s easy to get hung up on the losses and the challenges — to lose sight of where God has brought you and to lose hope that He’s going to leave you where you are, but as C.S Lewis beautifully said, “There are greater things ahead…”
So, if you feel discouraged by your current situation, or you’re heartbroken over what you thought might be and disheartened by not seeing what you had hoped by now, remember, life is happening right now, and right now, you can live it by doing small things well. We can love the people in our life now — we may not have them tomorrow. We can pray for our community and share what we have with others — we could lose it all tomorrow. Life is not promised more than this minute, so let’s get busy living, being thankful, pursuing and prioritizing our relationship with God, and being present for the opportunities He has given us to do today.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
