The Power of Love in Small Places

Sitting on my patio, face in the shade, legs in the sun, I’m basking in the tranquility of the moment. Even the noise of a distant saw heard over my bubbling water fountain seems to buzz in harmony as I sit rejoicing in the rewards of obedience to God’s still, quiet voice.

It began when my husband, Mike couldn’t find a small item he wanted for a project.  Instead of tending to my own pressing business, I helped him find it. The story is that simple.

That small.

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Yet, the impact my tiny act of service made in our relationship was huge.

I could have missed it. It would have been easy for me to ignore God’s gentle nudge and tend to my pressing ministry “to do” list. Shoot, had I followed my way of thinking, I wouldn’t have stalled the day’s busy schedule to help him find what I thought an insignificant item.

But as I watched him paw through drawers, open and close cabinet doors with growing frustration and futility, God reminded me that the first order of “ministry” every day is to love my husband. The first order of “ministry” every day is to love our spouse. Click To Tweet

So I joined Mike in his search and we found the missing piece — which would end the story except for one thing; it super-boosted our relationship. The transforming affects my small act of love had on Mike surprised me. His quiet gratitude powerfully punctuated God’s point about the true the priority for the day.

Through that simple experience, my husband and I gained a fresh perspective of each other and the power of love in small places. And the deepened appreciation and affection it generated between us humbled me before a God whose ways are not my own.

I wonder how often we underestimate the power little acts of love wield to strengthen the sometimes fragile cord that binds hearts together? We underestimate the power little acts of love wield to strengthen the cord that binds hearts together. Click To Tweet

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It’s so easy to get caught up in our busy schedules and responsibilities and neglect God’s simple command to love. In the little, common things, through the daily inconveniences.

God has used my small story to remind me of a big lesson: obedience to God’s command to love changes things. Obedience to God’s command to love, changes things. Click To Tweet It changes people. It softens hearts and transforms relationships. For me, God used simple obedience to knit together two edgy, harried hearts in the unexpected intimacy of oneness. What an incredible reward!

I’m so thankful that God’s ways are not mine. I rejoice that He had more “important plans” for my day and that He captured my heart so I could see the power of His love and be transformed by it.

How about you? What “small things” has God used to make an impact in your life?