Recently I was reflecting on how doing little things in our physical lives can make a big difference such as taking a little walk each day, stretching for 5-10 minutes, drinking more water, getting more sleep, arriving a few minutes early to exercise class for more warmup time, or making small changes to our movements to avoid pain from an injury.
There is power in little things that can help us grow stronger.
We can thank St. Therese of Lisieux for the ‘Little Way’ and awakening us to the power of little things in the spiritual life. She challenges us to serve God with a childlike simplicity in prayer and in action. She reminds us that it’s not about great and mighty works, but that we are called to do everything out of love and obedience to God, no matter how small the task.
Sometimes the smaller the better.
I am one of those people who is prone to running late. I pray and ask God to help me be organized so that I can meet people or be at an appointment on time. It is a little way that I’m trying to love my neighbor more fully. Most people in my life don’t know how challenging this is for me, but I’m grateful to God for showing me that being on time is a little thing that helps me grow stronger by putting the needs of others first.
Recently, I asked God to show me what I can do to help others during Advent. That evening, I received an email from a friend asking me to make a meal for another friend who just had a baby (family of 10, praise God!) I thanked God and I look forward to this little act of sharing my love of cooking with a friend and her family.
The Little Way inspires me to consider my words carefully before talking, to seek gentleness in responding on touchy issues, but to be courageous when the Holy Spirit is prompting me to defend the truth of our faith. The more childlike, the better when trying to hear the small, still voice of the God so I can respond with kindness and love.
Last summer I had the privilege of praying a chaplet of gratitude with a friend on a social media platform called Clubhouse. On each decade of the Rosary, we prayed aloud 10 things we were grateful for. My friend really opened my eyes to things I take for granted, such as running water and a dependable car and little things in nature like a morning songbird, a drop of dew on a leaf, a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds — really the list is endless! When looking at the little things to be thankful for (with more childlikeness) in our homes, with friends and family, in our workplaces and in nature, we realize the magnificent tapestry that God has created for us.
Littleness can be a powerful mindset and being content by loving in little ways can help us grow in humility — the powerhouse virtue that fosters more faith, hope and love. When we are honest about our weaknesses and imperfections, and ask Jesus to use what little we have to serve him, he heals and strengthens us and often surprises us. Being little means we rely on him all the more. May we be like St. Therese and say, ”How happy I am to realize that I am little and weak, how happy I am to see myself so imperfect.”