{ Day 6-Thankful For The Small And Simple Things }

I am beginning to feel like all of my thankful things are “small and simple” things, but as I was thinking about my item of gratitude today I realized why that is. As I was reading my scriptures this morning I came across one of my favorite versus, and in it was the phrase, “..by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..” As I looked in the dictionary under the word simple and in the index of the Book of Mormon, I made a connection I hadn’t before.

In the dictionary one of the first definitions says: Not complex: easy <a simple task>. In the index one of the words listed after simple that could be used for further study said: Ease. I thought of just the events from yesterday, and thought of all the “small and simple things” that had been done for me by our Heavenly Father.

I had enough time that morning to pick up all the toys, laundry, etc., before the cleaning ladies came (which is a miracle Brooke said because our house is a disaster), we were able to leave early to take Brooke to the doctor (we are usually late every where), I had time to feed Ryan before the appointment ( a blessing since I didn’t know how long we would end up being at the hospital), Brooke’s arm wasn’t hurting her too bad, Aaron was able to come to the hospital to help take her to get an x-ray,(they wouldn’t let me take all the kids back to get her x-rayed. Aaron has had to be at work by 5am every morning this week and has been crazy busy as they are instituting a new model in one of their clinics. I would have surely have had to wait another hour if he hadn’t been able to come), Aaron came home early so I didn’t have to take everyone to Brianna’s piano lesson,..The more I thought about it, there seemed to be a hundred simple things that happened, all of which were EASY, or a SIMPLE TASK for the creator of all the universe to do. Yet, all of them were done for the sole purpose of making my life one of more EASE. Would I have survived without those things happening?, sure. But a loving Heavenly Father being so mindful of me, performed those small and simple things and “brought to pass great things”, like changes in my heart and to my faith.

I think many times we feel that it’s those large monumental things that happen in our lives that are sure to help us know He answers our prayers and is aware of our needs. But I think the truth is that it is us being aware that He knows even those small details in our lives and cares about those things just as much that makes all of the difference. I have been known to think, “If only our house sold, THEN I would surely know He has heard my prayers.” The reality I am seeing is that, “Yes, I KNOW He hears my prayers because those silent pleas that I offered up in stressful moments throughout the day were answered through “small and simple means”.  Recognizing that, has made me have complete confidence that all those other big things will come with time and all work out. What a blessing to be able to see that now.

As if I hadn’t already been spiritually fed enough, I read further in the Doctrine and Covenants, and the verse with the phrase, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” caught my eye. How many times a day do I often feel weary in well-doing? Raising seven small children can see like a Herculean task at times. I sometimes feel more weary than that I am doing any great work. Before I had time to throw a pity party for myself right in the middle of my scripture time, I read a cross reference to Doctrine and Covenants 123:16. It talks about how a large ship uses a very small helm to guide it in a storm. The last part is what I hadn’t noticed before. It says, “..by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.” It didn’t say that the small helm benefitted the large ship by trying to fight against the wind and waves during a storm, but by working with them. How often do I feel weary because I am trying to fight against the trials and adversity and daily life that are there to teach me, instead of working with it. How much more could I benefit my our spiritual ship if I did? How often am I focusing so much on the weary instead of seeing all the great work.

When I look into the eyes of those small seven children, I can see that they are the great work. All the small and simple things I can do for them each day is laying a foundation of strength and love for them far greater than I will ever know. No thing is too small or too simple that our Heavenly Father doesn't notice it. How grateful I am for all those small things. What a strength to my faith to recognize that the simple things in our life are really the great things.