November 5

The day of small things

“For who hath despised the day of small things?” (Zech. 4:10).
“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9).

Small things, little incidents, trifles, go to make up our lives. Carelessness as to trifles leads to grievous falls; attention to trifles makes us developed men and women.
It is the little things, the minor duties that are constantly occurring, that form our characters and augment our powers. If we despise the small, we shall fall by the small; but if we are faithful in little, we shall be faithful in much. A word fitly spoken may seem a trifle, but it is full of joy and blessing; a trifling handshake may be a benediction; a cup of cold water shall not lose its reward.
Accomplish the little things well. Do your best; simply, sweetly, quietly, and quickly; do it not for self, but to the Lord. Strive not after great things, not after that which is self-love and desire of applause, and is not pleasing to God.
—Stephen Merritt.

Letters joined make words,
And words to books may grow
As flake on flake, descending,
Forms an avalanche of snow.
A single utterance may good
Or evil thoughts inspire;
One little spark, enkindled,
May set a town on fire.
What volumes may be written
With little drops of ink!
How small a leak, unnoticed,
A mighty ship will sink!
A tiny insect’s labor
Makes the coral strand,
And mighty seas are girdled
With grains of golden sand. . . .
Our life is made entirely
Of moments multiplied,
As little streamlets, joining,
Form the ocean’s tide.
Our hours and, aye, our months and years,
Are in small moments given:
They constitute our time below,
Eternity in Heaven.

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