Small Things and Big Love

Sometimes I make things too complicated. I get this idea in my head that I have to do HUGE things for God, or they somehow don’t count. I hear about people moving to other countries to build orphanages, be doctors, or just learn a completely new culture in order to introduce people to Jesus. Of course, I think it’s awesome that people do these things! We need those people, and their gifts definitely show off God’s love in a special way.

But sometimes when I hear about the “big” things other people are doing, I hear another voice whisper in my ear, “You’re not doing enough.” Or, “What you do doesn’t really matter.”

My inner critic can be kind of a mean girl... especially when she teams up with my insecurity. But some days it’s hard not to wonder if what she’s saying is true. Does my small life really matter?

Planning meals for the week. Changing a diaper. Finishing that project at work. Listening to your spouse share about a hard day. Writing a note to a friend who’s hurting. Choosing kind words. Does it all matter?

Just because something is small, doesn’t mean it’s unimportant.

Jesus showed up in this world as a baby. That’s a pretty small container to hold ALL of God’s Huge-ness. Which made the miracle all the more incredible. In the same way, somehow the fullness of God’s love can come to life through our everyday “small” acts of service, done in love. Not because we’re really good at loving. But because God lives in us. BIG love in a small container.

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12

Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash.