The Canopy of Little Things

Along the main street of our city grows a beautiful canopy of huge, old oak trees.  Their branches drape across the five-lane street with grace.  In another part of town, another canopy of oak trees is growing.  We have watched for several years as these oak trees, planted about ten feet apart, have grown large enough to create the canopy.  Crepe myrtle trees in the median add a sprinkling of color in the spring.

As beautiful as these streets are, and as much pleasure as we have in them, at some point, someone had to decide to plant these threes there.  Perhaps it isn't so with the older trees, but with the younger trees, it is obvious they are there by design.  Someone had the forethought to plant them  and place them so they would be beautiful for decades to come.

When the trees were first planted, they were small, tiny things.  And it is true each of these huge oak trees began from a single acorn.  The acorn held within it the promise of a massive oak to come.

I don't think we have any idea how powerful the future is for some of the smallest things we do.  A smile, a kind word, a thoughtful touch of the hand, may make a big difference in the life of the person who receives them.  We may feel as if we are powerless  to do much for the Lord, but we can each pray for those around us. We don't need to know details or particular, the Lord knows those.  All we need to do is to ask the Lord to work where He sees need and to work out His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus in and through that person.  This tiny acorn may one day grow into a massive oak.

I am convinced it is the tiny things, the unseen things, the unheralded things which will reap the most in heaven.

 Mark 12:41-44"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.   And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.   And He called unto Him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:   For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."