Recently, while working in the Walk-in Clinic, I met a lady having significant depression and anxiety. She was dealing with some difficult circumstances, the kind no one should have to deal with, especially one after another. Overwhelmed by all she was going through, she was struggling to cope, pleading for help.
I did what I could. I listened, offered some words of advice, talked about diet and exercise, and prescribed some medication to temper the mood swings and got her connected with a mental health counselor. Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can do in a 10 minute visit and I left the exam room, feeling a little depressed myself, feeling like I hadn’t done much for her and wishing I could do more.
Later that day, the nurse who discharged the lady came to me to let me know the patient had expressed over and over how much I had helped her, that my listening to her and showing her kindness had really made a difference.
I was shocked (and a little embarrassed). Where I thought I had woefully failed I’d actually made a difference. God had used my feeble efforts to help this lady start to turn her life around. He also taught me a lesson. Little things can make a big difference.
With all the broken lives each of us meets each day, the bleeding hearts, and wounded spirits, it can be overwhelming. How can anything we even put a dent in the heartache all around us?
There is only one way – one little thing at a time. A listening ear, a kind word, and little smile, may be just what that person needs at that moment in time. And, just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, He can take our feeble efforts and turn them into something amazing, the full consequences of which we may never know this side of eternity.
The truth is little things matter. Our efforts may not seem like much at the time, but it only takes a little yeast to leaven a batch of dough and sometimes it takes just a little kindness to help a heart to heal.
The important thing is for us to just be there, ready to listen, eager to help, liberal with our love, ready to “carry each other’s burdens…’” (Galatians 6:2). We don’t need to worry about the effectiveness of our actions. That’s in God’s hands. We just need to do what we can and let Him take care of the rest.
Today, let’s “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32), “Be devoted to one another in love.” (Romans 12:10), and spread a little kindness everywhere we go. Who knows, together we just may change the world, one little thing at a time.
God bless and have a Happy Sabbath!