It seems like I spend too much time focusing on the larger difficulties we face in India. There are numerous little things that I really enjoy in India. For one thing, I really enjoy being in a warm climate, especially when it is winter at home. I like going outside wearing the same thing I have on inside. It’s never too hot or too cold. I can wear sandals outside and go barefoot inside. In Pennsylvania it seems my feet are always cold in the winter, but never when I am here. That also means its never cold after a shower. I hate freezing in the bathroom at home.
I like the simple but good foods available at the continental breakfasts in the hotels we use. I love having Nancy along (not a little thing, but something I definitely don’t want to overlook when talking about being grateful).
Having a car we can use which is safe and affordable is a great blessing as well. I don’t have to go to internet cafes anymore and I’m glad for that! And now bottled water is cheap ($.25 for a liter) and readily available.
While these may sound like small things, they really aren’t! They are big things that I just don’t appreciate as much a I should because often I let the really small things become large and bothersome. Like hitting my little toe on a chair in the dark, I let small problems and difficulties take up too much space and priority in my thinking and block out all the really big things God continues to do to bless me.
Matthew 13:32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
John 6:9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
1 Corinthians 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong
What do you spend more time thinking about: the little difficulties and changes you face, or the big blessings God has showered everywhere in your life?
Get a paper and pencil and make a list of the little things you are letting drain your joy and peace, and the big things He is doing for you which you seldom think of. Put the list somewhere where you’ll see it often.