The Little Things

It's 7:20 on a Saturday morning as I write this. During the week I would have been at work for 20 minutes by now, and my day would already have been a couple of hours old. Please understand that I'm not complaining, but I wake up at around 5:30 and let the dog out and then he and I head over to the stables to feed our horses, pausing before we leave to start the first zone of the sprinklers out front. We get back from the barn and switch the water over to zone 2 and while that's running I get my teeth brushed and find clothes to wear. Then I sit down to send out the daily devotional e-mail before turning the water off and getting dressed. Finally, I help my wife get her things collected to load up the car so we can leave for work (we carpool). A busy morning to be sure.

So, the fact that it is after 7 and I just got up a few minutes ago is very cool. Part of the reason it is so cool is that my wife is at the stables right now feeding the horses for me because she woke up earlier than I did. She is wonderful and I'm blessed that God has put us together!

Not only in a marriage but in any relationship, its the little things that make the biggest differences. When you give freely of yourself just because you want to and not because you expect anything, you will be rewarded for it. Don't believe me? Read this:

Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. -- Matthew 6:1-4(NIV)

Please note the quotes around 'acts of righteousness'. I believe that to mean that we shouldn't 'act' righteous and do something in the name of God in order to receive praise from people. But to give for the sake of others without making a big deal of it, well, that is what God expects from us. If we're called to give that way and do so for strangers, how much more so for those closest to us!??!?

Yep, its those little things that carry the loudest echoes in eternity. Make it a point in your daily life to look for the spots where you can quietly give of yourself to friend and stranger alike and know that not only will God take notice, but He will be the One to deliver your reward.