There have been times when I prayed for something and God went, “You know what, I’ll do you one better.” When I prayed for a church, He gave me a community. When I prayed for friends so I wouldn’t be lonely, He gave me a husband. When we (my husband and I) prayed for a child, He gave us a son. When we were looking for a house to rent, He showed us one we could own instead.
Most of us have those “Praise God!” testimonies, and don’t get me wrong – they’re wonderful. But it’s easy to praise God in such times when He goes the extra mile. What about those days in-between miracles and provision, when one day fades into the next at school, the office, home, or church? Those days when there’s only silence and routine? How do we praise God then? More importantly, what do we praise God for, then?
Well… everything. Every little thing. The smallest things. Of course, you think. We all know that! We know it, but do we do it? When was the last time you praised God for sidewalks, bread, or algebra? For a safe and uneventful commute home? What about for having eyes to see, or ears that can hear? More often than not, the small things we take for granted are more important than we think (yes, even algebra).
“Small” itself can be interpreted in so many ways. As a descriptive word, it means less than normal and of limited importance. It can also mean something that isn’t loud, or doesn’t call attention to itself. Small things are usually part of a larger thing, something bigger and better. Without all the many small parts of a machine, or body, or even a movie, it doesn’t quite work well. Something isn’t right; it isn’t really “whole.”
Maybe there are no small blessings—only pieces that fit into a larger life of blessing that God has laid out for us. All we need to do is pay attention to our lives and whisper thanks to Jesus. The simple act of thanking Him for all the little things might be just what we need to realize that small things can be important too… but you need to keep an eye out for them. Some of these so-called small things don’t call attention to themselves, or aren’t easily found. If we look closely though, they are there: a lost coin, one tiny pearl, a single lost sheep. Someone paid attention to these “small” things. Kinda makes a person think, doesn’t it?
By Michellan Sarile Alagao
