It’s the Little Things

Several years ago, an aspiring speaker and writer had a table set up at a Promise Keeper’s event. She was asking men something like, “What does it take to make you happy?” It just so happened that my husband, Don was walking past her table and she grabbed him and asked her question, then gave him a survey to fill out. His reply?

“It’s the little things in life that make me happy… like when she fluffs my pillow before bed.”

The “Little Things.” It made me think. What ARE the Little things? A pillow fluff. A smile. A touch. An “Atta boy” or “Atta girl.” Little things. Saying thank you, saying please, saying excuse me. Or maybe it’s just the acknowledgement. And I don’t know about you, but it’s when a man holds the door open for a woman, then she says thank you. It’s not sexist at all for a man to hold open the door for a woman… it’s the GOOD MANNERS his momma taught him when he was a boy. (Can you tell I’ve been in the south?)

Here’s my point: those little things can add up to big things later down the road. It makes me feel good for someone to smile at me without wanting anything from me in return. It makes me feel good when a man holds the door open for me, and as I say thank you to him, he smiles and says, “My pleasure!” Because what just happened is that by acknowledging that person’s act of kindness, I have given him a blessing. So it really was his pleasure!

Many times we remove someone’s blessing by not appreciating the little things. Whether it’s what I mentioned above, returning a dropped item, helping someone to their car with their groceries, or letting someone with one item in the checkout line go in front of us who has a cart load. The little things matter.

Having a snack for the kids after school. Complimenting your child for making the bed, however messy. Making a tent on the porch with your grandchild. Listening to and encouraging a friend who’s having a bad day. It’s the little things.

My husband loves to come home and smell dinner cooking. He doesn’t care what it is. Just the fact that the house smells like something good to eat, makes him feel good. And of course the fluffing of his pillow before he goes to bed. It’s the little things. And how much do you think it blesses the Lord when He sees His kids doing those little things? Random acts of kindness.

We could start an epidemic with just that by itself.

Oh, and the writer who was writing her book? It was published… and many more since. We received a copy of that book in the mail, complete with my husband’s quote among the others who were interviewed. It was “Capture His Heart: Becoming the Godly Wife Your Husband Desires” by Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. (Don’s quote is the “Thought For The Day” at the end of the Introduction…and yes, I still fluff his pillow before bed.)

What are some little things you could do for someone today?

Shelley Wilburn

Shelley Wilburn has been writing since the age of twelve. She loves stories and adventures, and often finds herself getting into mischief with any one of her six grandchildren. She has written several articles and devotionals over the years for various newspapers, women's magazines, and newsletters. She has also co-authored devotionals. Shelley began writing full-time in 2012 after being healed of over 40 years of depression and anxiety. Using her love of writing, and wearing mismatched socks, Shelley has developed a unique ministry of encouraging others using biblical truths and stories from her own personal life. When not writing, you can find Shelley and her husband of over 30 years, D.A. zipping down the road in their newest adventure-maker, a bright orange, Mustang convertible Shelley has laughingly dubbed The Pony.

Valerie Comer says:

October 29, 2012 at 12:01 am

Ah, great reminder. Sometimes we hold out for the big things, forgetting how important the every-day things are.

Shelley Wilburn says:

October 29, 2012 at 1:58 am

Absolutely, Valerie! And who knows? The little things can very well become big things later!