Mark 9:41
Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
The area beneath our two bird feeders is, most times of the year, a haven for our backyard squirrels. However, as September wanes, we see fewer and fewer of our furry friends partaking of the feast we generously spread.
The reason? The acorns are ripening! Of course, any self-respecting squirrel would much prefer this seasonal delicacy to the hum-drum offering of sunflower and sundry seeds. The oak branches above our deck, it seems, are particularly rife with the coveted nuts; as the squirrels chow down, the debris from their gnawing soon litters the surface.
What a mess!
And what a surprise. These acorn shards and shells bounce onto the deck with alarming speed, emitting sharp, resounding snaps, crackles and pops that defy their minute stature. And don't let one hit you on the head. Ouch! Yes, I've been there and, regrettably, done that.
How can something so tiny create such ruckus upon landing?
I wonder . . .
Then I'm reminded of what I've written about here before that certainly bears repeating: You don't have to do big things to have a lasting impact on someone's life.
Small things, such as offering someone a cool drink, a smile, a kind word, can go a long, long way.
Because in a nutshell, it's not so much the gesture, but in whose name the gesture is made.
The powerful, life-changing name of Jesus.
Amen!
You are exactly right Martha. The smallest gesture can often have the biggest impact. Like getting hit on the head by a falling acorn remnant. Small thing; big impact. Good devotional thought today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill! May we all be conscious, without having to get hit on the head, to serve others the way Jesus would have us do, even in the smallest gestures.
DeleteLove and blessings!
Wonderful post today, Martha. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you always.
Thank you, Victor, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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Little things add up for sure, 1 or 2 acorns on the patio may go unnoticed, but a pile of acorns that fall 1 at a time will surely make be noticed. I think the same is true with acts of kindness. 1 or 2 acts of kindness may largely go unnoticed, but a lifestyle of kindness will make a big impact in the lives of others.
ReplyDelete"A lifestyle of kindness . . ." I love this concept, Ryan! Certainly as Christians, that should be our goal. And speaking of acorns, I just finished sweeping another crop off our deck. Lol!
DeleteLove and blessings!
Beautiful, Martha! It's all in the details, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe've no acorns -- not sure what sort of nut they are. But oh man, when they fall atop Tom's metal shed it's startling.
PS - Adorable picture of Racer! :)
Maybe what's falling on Tom's shed are hickory nuts? They are quite large, and will hit with tremendous force. Maybe you could use Google Images to figure out what they are.
DeleteAnd yes, Racer is always and ever adorable!
Love and blessings!
I love this timely reminder that little choices can produce big impact ...
ReplyDeleteBless you for sharing this needed truth this afternoon, Martha!
I'm so glad this post resonated with you, Linda! Yes, small choices can make a big difference.
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What a beautiful lesson you gained from the squirrels, Martha: "You don't have to do big things to have a lasting impact on someone's life." Amen!
ReplyDeleteYes, Lisa, even, and maybe especially, we can learn lessons from our wildlife friends. All of God's creation points to the One who made it.
DeleteLove and blessings!
What a beautiful lesson you learned from God's creatures, Martha. So true that small gestures can impact someone's life. "Because in a nutshell, it's not so much the gesture, but in whose name the gesture is made." Amen! Thank you for this reminder. Love and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked the lesson here, Trudy. We can never underestimate the power of the smallest gesture towards another if done in Jesus' name.
DeleteLove and blessings!
It’s the small things that grow into large blessings. Thank you, Martha, for sharing your love of nature in a way that blesses us all.
ReplyDeleteI like to think that, too, Nells, that the small things can grow into huge blessings for others. So glad you enjoyed the post!
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Martha,
ReplyDeleteIn a nutshell, this post made me smile :) and think. You are such a gifted writer, my friend.
Thank you, Beckie, for your kind words here. If I can bring a smile to anyone's face and brighten their day, I feel that the Lord has used me for His purpose.
DeleteLove and blessings!
And stepping on one of those opened shells in bare feet is not pleasant, either! LOL! Thank you for another wonderful spiritual lesson, sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't, that's for sure, Cheryl! So glad you liked the lesson presented here.
DeleteLove and blessings!
"In a nutshell"...what a profound message!!! Thank you for putting it so precisely!! And yes, we have oak trees here and the acorns are starting to fall...so I expect we will have squirrels enjoying the feast. That's fine with me...I prefer them to eat that than the birdseed! Anyway, this was a great message..."in a nutshell!"
ReplyDeleteSo happy you enjoyed the lesson here, Pamela. Yes, I'm sure the squirrels in your neck of the woods will be feasting soon, if they're not already.
DeleteLove and blessings!
“The Lord likes small things best, especially those done with love.”
ReplyDelete― Mother Teresa
So there you go.
Amen, Galen, amen!
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beautiful lesson from an acorn and great reminder!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jean!
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What an amazing word picture you have created, Martha. It's so true that the smallest of things/actions can have a BIG impact. For example, think about the pain of an eyelash in your eye or the pain of a small callous. Yes, our smallest actions of kindness will reap far more dividends than we can imagine.
ReplyDeleteAnd the acorns? Many years ago, I was walking on a college campus with my backpack on my back--walked under an acorn tree--one hit me on the thick shoulder strap--it was painful!
Love and blessings!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the word picture, Kim, and could share some other great examples of how some of the small things can have such an impact. Especially for those of us who wear contacts, an errant eyelash in the eye can be excruciating! But it does cause us to take action, doesn't it? Yes, never underestimate the power of the smallest action.
DeleteLove and blessings!