I heard a song recently that struck a chord with me. It wasn’t the tune which got me. In fact, when I first heard it, I was ready to dismiss the song as fluff, “gospel-lite”, not worthy of my attention. But the words convicted me deeply.
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Too often, I’m derailed by small things, things that are so trivial it’s embarrassing to admit I’m bothered by them, “stuff” as Francesca Battistelli calls them. In a world where people experience deep suffering, why do I allow these small matters to rob me of joy and peace?
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The Bible refers to small annoyances such as these as “little foxes that ruin vineyards.” Song of Sol 2:15
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Many small things have great impact.
• A poor widow donated two small coins and was honored for it.
• A young boy shared a lunch of two small fish and five loaves, and it was used to feed thousands.
• The mustard seed is the “smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants…” Mk. 4:31-32
• “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” Jms 3:5
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Small things can have large consequences — negative ones or positive ones — depending upon our response to them. We’re given a choice: to just be irritated OR to allow God to use these irritations to shape our character like a file smooths a rough surface.
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Small and big things – He uses them all to get us where we need to be. 🙂
A very timely message for me. I thank God for His disciplining. It proves He loves us. So the way we respond shows how much we love Him.
Oh, yes. All that insignificant "stuff" pushes me right into sin.
Like whining, complaining, being grumpy, snapping at people.
Lord, help me to let go of "stuff."
Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com
I love Francesca, and "This is the Stuff" is one of my new favorite songs. You can tell she's a mother now! God many times grows our character in the small things! Thanks for the link 🙂
Giving thanks in all things is so hard, but it's what keeps those little foxes away.
Thanks for that reminder as I have three sickies this week and my Florence Nightingale suit is getting stained.
Waving and smiling,
Rhonda
Hi Susan –
I sometimes allowed small "stuff" ruin my day. Now, I'm looking for the positives in situations and counting my blessings.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
It was wonderful reading your post! Keep writing!
My hand is raised as a guilty one. Just today I let two customers upset me over little things. I repent. Thanks for this, Susan dear.
I'm a huge Francesca Battistelli fan! I've only heard this song once but loved it. And you're right–small things can be turned into big things by the Lord!
I too immediately thought it was corny but loved the words and have quoted it often. Now I look forward to hearing it! Meanwhile, Ray has lost 2 full sets of keys in 1 week back during Dana's winter break when he was shoveling and juggling all the cars! Wonder what God is doing with him!
Linda
This post really hit home for me… So often, I dismiss stuff because of something insignificant when God has something deeper to show me; and I don't want to miss anything that God wants to show me!!
http://ladyonaroof.blogspot.com/
I've been hearing that song as well, and in listening have thought about the little things that I let get under my skin. I'm afraid it happens too often!