The Power of Little Things

Sometimes We Have To Look For Positive Things

In these days of turmoil, little things can easily go unnoticed. Think about your life in the last forty-eight hours. Are there any little things that have given you a lift, a positive attitude, or a smile?

For me, it would be lunch with a friend . . . sweet dark cherries on sale at my favorite grocer . . . and a long telephone visit with a friend far away.

I have friends who think it’s a little thing to sew face masks to help people deal with COVID-19. As for me, it’s a little thing to actually wear a mask if it will have a positive impact on our economy.

One thing that made me smile this week was banana bread. It’s a favorite of one of our neighbors, and I like to bake. I carefully followed a new recipe but the loaf felt heavy. The neighbor said it tasted great, but I nicknamed it the “banana brick.”

Thumbs Up For The Tongue

When talking about the power of little things, we can’t forget our tongue. What a marvelous body part! It helps us taste, which is a pleasure, and it helps us talk. It’s amazing how the tongue helps form words for every language in the world.

James points out the power of little things: 1) a small bit in a horse’s mouth controls the whole animal, and 2) a small rudder can set the course of a great ship. Unfortunately, there is no such control for our tongue (James 3:3-10).

In this passage, The Message points out some areas of caution:

By our speech we can

ruin the world,

turn harmony into chaos,

throw mud on a reputation,

send the whole world up in smoke . . .

Add some volume to your voice and your tongue can do even more damage. 

Be alert! Use your tongue powerfully for good things.