Small Things Make a Big Difference

SMALL THINGS MAKE

A BIG DIFFERENCE

By Edward Ramos, Jr.

You may read this title and say, “Wow that is true.”  But let’s think about it.  How many of you have seen a hole in a stone caused by the continual run of water drops?  Or how many have seen a kitchen sink stained by the continual drip of water from the faucet?  Small things over time can make a big difference. 

How about when we serve others or give?  Every week volunteers deliver food and other items to Clare House, everything from a tooth brush to diapers to bags of groceries.  Whatever the size, even the small things help make a difference in the lives of so many that cannot afford to feed themselves.  Every bag of groceries assembled for distribution has a combination of many small things that make a big difference in a person’s life.  They include vegetables, protein, fruit, soup and toiletries.  You might think that a little donation of one or two items doesn’t matter, but they do.  As the volunteers stack and package these bags of care, they include small things; things that show concern and empathy for another’s burden; and that is big.

Even the volunteers come in all sizes, from small to big, from children to adults.  Many times there are cub scouts or children with their parents that deliver groceries.  These kids are truly amazing, carrying large bags that sometimes are larger than themselves, but they make that big difference, all the while huffing and puffing from the car to our door.  Even Jesus spoke many times about the small things in this world, the birds of the air, the scattered seed or the little children: 

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”  Matthew 10:42

Today giving someone a cup of cold water in the United States is nothing much, it may be considered insignificant.  You can buy bottled water in a supermarket or visit a public building and locate a water fountain.  But in some parts of the world, it is a big thing because many water supplies are dirty, diseased, or contaminated.  If a small cup of water is associated with a reward, how about toiletries, or groceries, or other donations.  Truly these are other “small things” but they will make a “big difference” in a person’s life, or their family.  Thanks again for giving the small things and making a big difference, either through giving, volunteering or donating.