The Little Things

I participated in a video chat the other day.

It was an informal session that allowed a few of us to stay connected during this pandemic.

A friend who participated shared an experience she had in the supermarket.

She picked up the last bag of flour on the shelf and placed it in her cart.

As she moved down that aisle another customer entered it.

This shopper was looking for flour as well, but the shelf was now barren.

My friend still had a bit of flour at home.

She offered the bag she selected to the other shopper.

The other shopper accepted it gratefully as they had none at home.

After sharing this experience, my friend added that this was “just a little thing”.

I pondered my friend’s words and actions as the chat continued.

My thoughts first turned to the account of Elijah and the widow from 1 Kings 17.

During a drought, Elijah encountered a widow gathering sticks and asked her for a drink of water.

As she left to get it, Elijah asked her for bread as well.

The widow replied that all she has left was a little flour and a little oil.

She added that she was out gathering sticks in order to make one final meal for her and her son.

Elijah instructed the woman to prepare him a small cake first,

Afterward, she could prepare something for herself and her son.

The woman did so and something amazing happened.

1 Kings 17:15-16 (NET) - She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family. The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, in keeping with the Lord’s message that he had spoken through Elijah.

I also thought about the time Jesus fed 5,000 with a boy’s lunch.

This is the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels.

Jesus had the crowd sit down,

He took the small barley loaves and the two fish.

He then gave thanks to God and began distributing the food.

Everyone ate until they had their fill.

John 6:12-13 (NET) - When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.

As I considered this, the video chat began winding down.

Just before it ended, I referred to my friend’s experience in the supermarket.

I stated that we should all be doing the “little things” especially at times like this.

God can take the “little things” we do and multiply them in ways we cannot even imagine.

Not one of us can do everything, but each of us can do something!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 1, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 8, 2020