Among other interests, I love quilting, knitting and cooking.  The favorite part of these three is what I can do with leftover material, yarn and food, the creative side that I love the best.  During the year, and in quieter moments of reflection, I work on various gifts for people.  Small pillows, whether knitted or made with material, and attach a pocket to tuck in a get well note, happy birthday or just because……I have made bookmarks from leftover linen or sock yarn.  Always with a personal touch, to encourage one that may not be feeling well or discouraged. Other times I have taken slices of pie, soup to go along with someone’s meal, whatever I may be preparing at the time.  One of my favorite leftover side dishes is fried potato patties made from left over mashed potatoes.  Something as simple as potato patties to go along with someone’s meal to brighten their day.

Sometimes we don’t feel as though we can do anything in teaching others the Gospel, but it is in the little things that we so often neglect, that mean so much to others.  A personal touch, a kind word, an understanding heart, a listening ear, can make all the difference in the lives of others.  ….and it is in these smaller, every day moments, that others see Christ living in us.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”      Matthew 5:16

One day recently, while working on some of these smaller projects, the thought occurred to me about Jesus having done the very same with the fragments from having fed the people.  There were about five thousand men, not including women and children that were gathered to hear the Master.  A great number of people.

“When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, he saith unto Philip.  Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?  And this He said to prove him:  for He himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto Him.  There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many?  And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.  When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.  Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”    John 6:5-13

Our Lord never thought the small things were unimportant.  He always had time for people and their lives.  He healed the lame, caused the blind to see, raised Lazarus from the dead, fed multitudes of people, had compassion on their lives, and taught them His Words of life.  A life that so loved the smallest to the greatest, and gave His life for our sins.  None of us are insignificant in His eyes.  Just as He taught about the sparrows.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are more value than many sparrows.”      Matthew 10:29-31

Our Lord can take a life wrecked by sin and make it whole again, by our being obedient to His Word. A person may believe their life doesn’t matter, but to Him all lives matter, from the richest to the poorest, the educated to the uneducated, all have great value in His sight.

“Cherish the little things.  They are often the most precious.  Little words are the sweetest to the ear:  God, church, Bible, faith, hope, love, mother, father, home, child.

Eileen Light