Across the Pastor’s Desk, By Janet White

Every week, in churches all over the world, people are praying the prayer that Jesus taught us.  People will pray, “Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Here is a good definition of the kingdom of God. It is a world, both heaven and Earth, that works as God intended it.  Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. He said, “It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet, when it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

What are the little things we do that help to make the kingdom of God present in our world? What are the little things that grow so big in our lives and the life of the world?

Do you know the story of Alex’s Lemonade Stand?  Alexandra Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before she was 1 year old.  By the age of 4 she had undergone many treatments. She knew she had cancer, and that other children had cancer. She set up a lemonade stand in the front yard of her home. She was going to raise money to use in the fight against childhood cancer. Her efforts have grown immensely. By the time she died in 2004, she knew that she was the inspiration for raising $1 million for the fight against childhood cancer. Now, 12 years later, Alex’s Lemonade Stand has raised more than $100 million. A 4-year-old girl’s “small mustard seed” has grown and continues to grow.

Most of us won’t do anything as big as that little girl, but it’s a mistake to think that even the little things we do are unimportant. When I visit with people, I’m often inspired by things they tell me about their lives.  I always wish that people could hear the things their loved ones say at the time of their death. It’s the little things that are remembered the most fondly.

One woman was remembered for the candy dish she made sure was filled when her grandchildren came to visit. A man was remembered by his grandchildren for being so supportive and loving towards them, and for always singing the song, “Mockingbird Hill.”  We played it at his funeral. The smallest acts of kindness — an encouraging word, unconditional love and support — those are the things that people remember about us.

One of my favorite sayings is one by Mother Teresa, who said:  We are not called to do great things, but small things with great love. Small things with great love. That’s something we all can do.

Each one of us has stories about people who have changed our lives. They may have done something they thought was insignificant, but it was a “mustard seed” that has blossomed in your life. Each of us can flip that around and know that people right now are thinking of us and the impact we have made on them. We probably did not realize that we had sowed a small mustard seed.

We don’t know the impact of our lives, and the seeds we sow.  Let us trust that they have an impact.  Let us keep sowing the seeds.

 

Janet White is the interim senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.