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Tiny Kindnesses

By Cindy Boose

Do you ever feel like the little things you do just don’t seem to matter? Sometimes I get caught up with the idea that if I don’t do something monumental, earth-shattering or life-changing, then I’m not making a difference. I admire people who start food banks or train welfare recipients to support themselves or live in a third-world country to share God’s Word. Now that’s a sacrifice! That’s making a difference. But not too long ago, God showed me something: It’s not always the big things that count the most.

Recently, my daughter and I went to the high-school graduation of a friend. High school had not been easy for her, so we especially enjoyed celebrating her accomplishment with her. Later, she sent us a note that said, “You really made my graduation special for me and I won’t forget that.” Attending the ceremony seemed like such a small, natural thing for us to do, but it deeply touched her.

This led me to think of some of the simple—but significant—things others have done for me. Recently, the weather had been warm so our family was enjoying the fresh air blowing through the open windows. Before we knew it, a family of bats was hiding in the corner of our daughters’ bedroom! Unable to summon the courage to deal with them myself, I asked our neighbor—who, thankfully, loves bats—to come over and help us. She expertly caught the bats with a net, placed them in a container and instructed us to release them at dusk when we saw all the other bats flying around. This small act of kindness on her part relieved a burden for me.

Sometimes the little acts are physical, such as the assistance my sister recently enjoyed after delivering her fourth baby boy. Some members of her congregation delivered meals to her family each night for a week. This small gesture allowed my sister to concentrate on the new baby and her recovery, knowing her family would enjoy a home-cooked meal each night. What a great relief for any mother.

Other times, the kindnesses are emotional. How many of us have been on the receiving end of a short but encouraging phone call or note from someone who sensed our need? I remember such a call the morning after a particularly rough rehearsal with our praise and worship team at church. One of the members gave me encouraging words that moved me to tears. This small deed went a long way to influencing me to stay the course. Without her kind words, I may have struggled along for weeks or even quit the ministry.

Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. The mustard plant produces tiny seeds that grow into large bushes. Likewise, if each one of us continues to be faithful to do the little things for Him, those tiny seeds will grow into trees that will provide shade for others (Mark 4:30-32).

Jesus also told us we only need faith the size of a mustard seed and then “nothing will be impossible” for us (Matthew 17:20). Corrie ten Boom once said, “If all things are possible with God, then all things are possible to him who believes in Him.” Tiny kindnesses—that’s all it takes to make a difference in the eyes of God.

CINDY BOOSE writes stories from the heart and teaches her four teenage daughters from their home in South Carolina. God is keeping her on her toes with her husband's pending retirement from 24 years of service in the Army, and their oldest daughter's graduation from high school..