little things
The carpet cleaner was broken. And then it wasn't.
I needed new shoes. The shoe budget was tight. I found a really nice pair of shoes at Big 5 on clearance for $19.99. I have new shoes on my feet which always makes you feel good, right?
I don't want to smoke anymore. I just don't enjoy it like I used to. Maybe it's that whole thing about our bodies being a temple for the Holy Spirit. He's been letting me know lately He's not a fan of Camel Blue 99s. Or Nat Shermans for that matter. I think I might be more serious about it this time. I threw away a half-pack of cigarettes on my way into the hangar tonight.
It's little things. Like walking into Einstein's to buy a cup of coffee, hoping they brought back that autumn blend with the chestnut in it that you really like, and finding it. Or walking into Harmon's because they're about the only store that carries Johnathan apples in the fall anymore and finding them. They're my favorite apples but like cherries, you can only get them at a certain time of the year. They're not good when they're mooshy; so you have to get them early, while they're still crisp.
It's watching your teams win on Saturday and Sunday, then losing at fantasy football for the week, even though you scored a lot of points, that keeps you happy but humble.
It's been a week of little things. The big things do take their toll, and when they do it's having enough leave to take a half-day off when you're really needing it and an understanding boss who sees what you go through.
It's a partial answer to a reluctant prayer. It's a big answer to a small prayer. It's a chance to be the answer to someone else's prayer. It's sharing the gospel with someone and hoping that person walks away from sin and turns to Christ.
It's a little message on the radio that ends with a point that validates something you came to realize on your own. (The pastor tonight on the ride home was talking about people using the name of the precious Lord Jesus as a swear word and points out you never hear that said about important people in other religions). It's hoping that those that claim to be Christians actually embrace Christ's teachings.
It's seeing something you said to your pastor on the screen at church; shared with the congregation.
It's mowing the lawn and having no standing water in the curbs for the first time all summer and being able to sweep the gutters and clean up the parking lot with no difficulty. It's not finding nearly the usual amount of trash and just having everything go very smoothly.
It's just opening the Bible to the verse that seems to describe your feeling and offer either suggestion or encouragement; finding just that reminder to what God's will is when you're ready to go on your own will because His will isn't happening fast enough.
It's understanding that it doesn't make sense and it's not supposed to because you don't have the capacity to understand it.
It's a timely reminder of something that makes you know you're on the right road. Not the easy road, but the right one. It's recognizing that God has a sense of humor and He might use things to relate to you that you find humorous.
It's seeing God at work in others' lives and seeing them recognize it, too; hoping that they'll heed the call.
It's the love of a dumb dog (that's not mean, she's sweet but dumb as a post); that unconditional love my dog has for me, even when I feel like she's the only one.
I needed new shoes. The shoe budget was tight. I found a really nice pair of shoes at Big 5 on clearance for $19.99. I have new shoes on my feet which always makes you feel good, right?
I don't want to smoke anymore. I just don't enjoy it like I used to. Maybe it's that whole thing about our bodies being a temple for the Holy Spirit. He's been letting me know lately He's not a fan of Camel Blue 99s. Or Nat Shermans for that matter. I think I might be more serious about it this time. I threw away a half-pack of cigarettes on my way into the hangar tonight.
It's little things. Like walking into Einstein's to buy a cup of coffee, hoping they brought back that autumn blend with the chestnut in it that you really like, and finding it. Or walking into Harmon's because they're about the only store that carries Johnathan apples in the fall anymore and finding them. They're my favorite apples but like cherries, you can only get them at a certain time of the year. They're not good when they're mooshy; so you have to get them early, while they're still crisp.
It's watching your teams win on Saturday and Sunday, then losing at fantasy football for the week, even though you scored a lot of points, that keeps you happy but humble.
It's been a week of little things. The big things do take their toll, and when they do it's having enough leave to take a half-day off when you're really needing it and an understanding boss who sees what you go through.
It's a partial answer to a reluctant prayer. It's a big answer to a small prayer. It's a chance to be the answer to someone else's prayer. It's sharing the gospel with someone and hoping that person walks away from sin and turns to Christ.
It's a little message on the radio that ends with a point that validates something you came to realize on your own. (The pastor tonight on the ride home was talking about people using the name of the precious Lord Jesus as a swear word and points out you never hear that said about important people in other religions). It's hoping that those that claim to be Christians actually embrace Christ's teachings.
It's seeing something you said to your pastor on the screen at church; shared with the congregation.
It's mowing the lawn and having no standing water in the curbs for the first time all summer and being able to sweep the gutters and clean up the parking lot with no difficulty. It's not finding nearly the usual amount of trash and just having everything go very smoothly.
It's just opening the Bible to the verse that seems to describe your feeling and offer either suggestion or encouragement; finding just that reminder to what God's will is when you're ready to go on your own will because His will isn't happening fast enough.
It's understanding that it doesn't make sense and it's not supposed to because you don't have the capacity to understand it.
It's a timely reminder of something that makes you know you're on the right road. Not the easy road, but the right one. It's recognizing that God has a sense of humor and He might use things to relate to you that you find humorous.
It's seeing God at work in others' lives and seeing them recognize it, too; hoping that they'll heed the call.
It's the love of a dumb dog (that's not mean, she's sweet but dumb as a post); that unconditional love my dog has for me, even when I feel like she's the only one.
My life sometimes is very hard. Every now and again, it takes a toll on me. When it does, I try to look back at all the little blessings; the wonderful little things I see in my life and the lives of those around me that restore hope, bring joy, and just make me smile. Maybe once I took them for granted, but I don't anymore.
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