Living far from family in a different culture, little things can mean a lot. This morning in my Sunday morning conversation group at church, we had three people with birthdays, Anisleisdis from Cuba, Carmen from Venezuela, and Luis from El Salvador.
We celebrated with arepas from Venezuela. I gave each of them a birthday card and some chocolate. Carmen cooked the arepas and a gluten free chocolate brownie. I had told Anisleidis and her husband not to worry about bringing anything since they are so new here. Jorge just started working at a local meat packing plant. All three were all smiles as we celebrated.
It was obvious to me that our celebration meant a lot to my friends. Anisleidis, Jorge and Luis joined me in worship service after group and after worship service, Anisleidis thanked me with a big smile.
We can tend to think we need big things to make an impact, but the little things can mean so much. They may be a small thing to us, but big to someone else.
It makes me think about the impact it must have had on Zacchaeus that Jesus noticed him in the tree. Zacchaeus climbed the tree to be able to see Jesus. Zacchaeus was a man no one wanted to have around because he was a tax collector, so he was viewed as being a scoundrel and spiritually unclean. Yet Jesus took notice in Luke 19.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Jesus had dinner with Zacchaeus and his friends. It caused quite the stir but more importantly, it caused a change in Zacchaeus.
If we want to impact people, sharing a meal, celebrating a birthday, having coffee with them, or just spending time with them, can make more of an impact that we realize.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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