Don’t Focus on the Small Stuff

Have you ever focused on a small thing a person HASN’T done, and overlooked something big they HAVE done? 

I know I’ve done this before to my family. And I was just thinking this morning that it is so easy to do. Especially if you aren’t there to witness the ‘big thing’, or they don’t even tell you about it. 

Let me give you an example.

So yesterday one of our dogs (I will not internet shame them- especially since I really don’t know which one did it, but I have a pretty good guess) had the bright idea of pooping and peeing in the upstairs hallway. Thankfully it isn’t carpeted!! And you guessed it, they had just spent like two hours outside running around the back yard. 

Yeah, I don’t get it either. 

Now normally I just pick it up with toilet paper and flush it, then spray down the area with cleaner, but this was icky poo. (I won’t go into further detail. But Nikki, please tell Kenzi it was MOIST.) I decided it was too dangerous to try with toilet paper, so I used paper towels. 

I started to clean it up, and partway through I stepped on another tiny pile that I overlooked while focused on the big one. And I had no shoes on. Good times indeed. So I cleaned off my foot, and carried on. 

But I didn’t even get mad. Or grumble that I wished my girls were cleaning it up, because after all, these dogs belong to them and they should be doing this stuff, and I clean up plenty of other things around this house in case they hadn’t noticed.

I promise I didn’t. Cross my heart and everything. (Except the hope to die part.)

Anyway, then I took the bag out to the garbage bin outside because we were having company, and no one wants to smell that. 

And then promptly forgot to put a new bag in the bin upstairs. 

This morning as I was doing stuff in the bathroom, I saw that someone else (probably Jimmy ) had put a bag in the bin. And I was so thankful, because he didn’t even reprimand me that I forgot. He just did it. 

(I promise the spiritual component of all this is coming.)

So I got convicted that sometimes I overlook big things that someone has done and harp on little things that they have overlooked.

Sometimes people are dealing with, or have dealt with, big piles of ‘moist poo’, if you will, in their lives on their journey with Christ. And they sometimes step in smaller piles they’ve overlooked, getting themselves soiled again in the process of dealing with the bigger pile. 

But they clean themselves up, carry on, and even take the big mess out to the bin to get it out of their ‘house’, but don’t think to put a new bag in the bin for the next mess. 

I encourage you, if you can, to just put a bag in there for them. Do whatever little things you can to make their journey easier. Don’t harp or nitpick about something trivial when they’ve just dealt with something major that could’ve left a big stink, and could’ve soiled other people had it been left lying around. 

A good way to know the big things people are dealing with is to take the time to talk to them. And ask them how they’re doing, and what they need prayer for. Maybe then you can get down on the floor and help them clean up next time. 

Ephesians 3:17-19
(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
(19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1 Peter 4:8-10
(8) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
(9) Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
(10) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.