
I just started reading an interesting book called Start With Why by Simon Sinek. The book explains that everyone has a why, which is a combination of your beliefs, values and personality and the driving motivation for what you do. I am finding it thought provoking because I have actually been struggling to articulate my why- especially when it comes to blogging. Many times I just want to quit, but deep down I know that there is a reason I keep doing it. One thing said in the book is that a why never changes and that it applies to everything in our lives. My obvious why is because I love God and want to serve him, but that seems too broad.
As I pondered and wrestled with this question today I began looking at various areas of my life especially keeping my home and raising my children, but even my reading habits, my painting, the farming we used to do, and more. One thing that kept coming to mind is the idea that small things matter.
In our culture today, and maybe even as humans in general, we seem to have a tendency to always be looking for something bigger and better. We chase after bigger houses, fancier cars, we admire prominent people who seem to be doing big important things, we feel that someday we will be happy when we do something big enough or are successful enough. I am not saying that any of these are things are bad, just that sometimes we overlook or even look down on the small things that build a life, that can truly add joy and fulfillment to our lives and others. Things like:
- pausing to find joy in mundane tasks
- seeing beauty in small moments
- being faithful in our small duties
- taking baby steps toward a goal
- valuing the person hood of a small child
I truly believe in the value of the small things, in fact I believe they can change the world.
“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
When we are faithful in our care and stewardship of the small things given to us, in time they will grow into bigger things, and often we will find that all those small things actually were the building blocks of something bigger and more beautiful than imagined.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…
Luke 16:10 KJV
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Luke 19:17 KJV
If we could learn to pause and notice the stars shining as we walk between the car and the back door when we get home late at night, to thank God for the little hands and voices that constantly clamor for our attention , to spend just five minutes on that book we want to finish or that project we want to achieve- we would be surprised by how much richer our lives would be. These small things matter.
When we shift our perspective to see the difference these little things really make, we find more joy in our everyday life. To see the lives we are shaping, the habits we are forming, the goals we are reaching.
In God’s economy small things matter. In His word he tells us that with “faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove” and again “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” faith as small as a mustard seed, the faith of a small child. God sees and cares about the small things.
“…the thorough and willing performance of any duty, however humble or however exalted, is like the offering of incense to Christ, well pleasing and acceptable.”
Parents and Children, Charlotte Mason, pg. 139
As homeschool moms we have so many little things that need our attention, not just once but over and over again. The laundry, the dishes, another math lesson, the toddler spilled milk again… it can feel overwhelming and in fact rather pointless. Especially when the world around us tells us that what we do isn’t important. But it is. It does matter when we love our children, when we do our best to teach them what they need to know, when we stop to see our child as the person God made them to be. All these small things matter. You matter. That is why I keep this blog going.

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