Have you ever had a small pebble in your shoe? Very irritating, that one small pebble. Have you ever had a bad day? Did a quick call from a friend turn your day around? Have you ever noticed one bee flying around? That one bee can pollinate 5,000 flowers per day! Have you ever planted one seed? That one seed can grow to a giant tree. A prophet named Alma said the following: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).
A talk was recently given at church and the speaker spoke of a small miracle she had experienced. To her at the time, she did one small act of kindness and it blossomed into a miracle. Once she left a loaf of bread and pot of soup on an acquaintance’s door step. Later she found out that that act of kindness literally saved that person’s life. That person was despondent, but when she discovered someone cared enough about her to leave her bread and soup, she found the courage to go on. A small act of kindness became a great thing.
Once I went to a camp and we shared notes as secret pals with others at camp. I was given a short small note, that was just what I needed at the time. Many years later the memories of that note still bring a moment of peace and value to my heart. A few small words became a great memory for me.
Reading a scripture each day can be a small thing that gives you great perspective. Whispering one small prayer in your heart, can bring about great peace. Lending a hand to someone can bring great comfort.
When Jesus was on Earth he noticed small things. He singled out a single woman to heal when she touched his robe. He healed a blind man. He rose a child from the dead. Jesus also helps us with what might seem small, but can lead to great things in our lives.
A song by Nik Day says: “When we do the small things, All the everyday things, That’s what really matters, that’s what leads to great things. Miracles can happen. Simple things can change us. He’ll help us with all things When we do the small things, The small things.
That smile you offer, that door you open for someone, that plate of cookies you share, that high five you give, may all seem like small things, but those small things can unknowingly make someone’s day and sometimes that small thing can turn into a great miracle.
May we look for the one small bee that fertilizes 5,000 flowers, may we smile at one person at the grocery store, may we offer a hand to lift another, may we follow Jesus’ example and serve in many small ways. May you find miracles in the small things that become great things.
• Donna Leigh is a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Saturday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.
