Do Small Things with Great Love.
I found a magnet with this saying last week and have it on my fridge now to give me courage and purpose every day.
When I was little I had dreams of running an orphanage in Romania. A big, beautiful orphanage with lots of grass and trees for children to play in, and the dearest, kindest, lovingest people running it so that every child would feel treasured.
When I got older I still wanted to run the orphanage, but I also wanted to build a safe and wonderful hideaway where anyone who has been abused can go to restore their bodies and spirits and learn to thrive again.
They are good dreams, marvelous dreams, but they aren’t possible for me right now. I’m too sick and too poor and sometimes that has made me sad, wishing I could do something big and meaningful.
So reading that fridge magnet was such a gift, because I can do small things with great love.
I started hiking in our bush again and it has been wonderful. The woods are such a special place to me. The light, the trees, the wind, the air, the kangaroos hopping by, my dog Luna trotting happily beside me, and this week, the small things that are growing on the forest floor.
I am amazed by the number of small things underfoot. The tiniest of orchids – no bigger than a baby’s thumbnail – miniature ferns, and other exquisitely formed blossoms in pure white, vivid yellow, pale blue.
They aren’t huge and majestic like the trees, but they are beautiful and delightful in their minuteness.
And that makes me smile and take heart.
I may not be able to live out my big dreams right now, and that’s OK. No matter how bad I’m feeling or how poor I am, I can still do small things with great love.
And as I pondered that, delighting in it, my mind was filled with all the small things others have greatly loved me with recently:
- Bear making me a cup of tea every single morning no matter how stressed or busy or overwhelmed he is.
- friends coming over to visit with cookies and juice even when they were exhausted from a really difficult week.
- a friend giving me a jar of her homemade plum jam just because she knows I love it.
- a cousin taking time to write me real letters in Canada and send them all the way to Australia.
- a friend meeting me on Skype even though she was sick and I was sick just so we wouldn’t have to be sick all by ourselves.
Such little things that mean so much and make me feel loved right down to my toes.
So this morning after my walk, I eased my achy self into Bear’s oh-so-comfy green chair and happily plotted small things I can do with great love this week.
What small things have made you feel loved recently?
That is lovely–small things with great love. What a wonderful goal to have, for no one defines “small things” except ourselves. What a happy thing.
Yes, they are OUR small things, aren’t they, @knittingthemoment:disqus 🙂 I’m so glad we get to choose and do and love. 🙂
That woodland is beautiful, Krista, and your photos capture it exquisitely. Sometimes, just a few words of encouragement can make a big difference.
I’m so glad you like it too, @Kayrpea61:disqus It is one of my very favorite places in the whole world. 🙂 Yes, a few words can make such a huge impact. 🙂
I am always in awe of what you manage to achieve while being sick Krista. I do not know how you manage to motivate yourself. And all the while you are motivating others. I do love getting my Rambling Tart emails in my Inbox because I know for a fact that it means another post full of gorgeous photos and great ideas. I think you are very lucky to have your property to ramble about on. The bush would be a good place to hide too – just you and Luna and a picnic blanket 🙂 Isn’t that flower with the blood red centre divine? Having someone make you a cup of tea or a cool drink when you need mothering is the best feeling in the world 🙂
I love your idea of turning the woods into a hideaway picnic spot, @budgetjan:disqus 🙂 Love it very, very much indeed. 🙂 Thank you so much for your wonderfully encouraging words. You made my day. XO
I just love you, Krista. Running an orphanage and a shelter also used to be a dream of mine, and though I don’t think it will ever materialize in my lifetime, it makes me happy to know that you and I share this desire to help the abused and neglected. And maybe by focusing on the “small things with great love” that we can do, we will still be helping others learn to thrive. Thank you for this post… and the gorgeous photos!
I’m so glad it was meaningful to you, dear @BethanyBassett:disqus XO I love that we both wrote things today that were just what we needed to hear. 🙂 XO
what a beautiful saying – I shall have to look out for that magnet. Doing anything with love is the best way to do it!
I hope you can find one, @tandysinclair:disqus 🙂 Yes, anything with love is the best. 🙂
What a lovely saying. It’s, true that the small things can contribute so much. My small things are food, making people happy with food. GG
Oh, good food is such an amazing gift, Glamorous Glutton. 🙂 It has meant so much to me over the years and never fails to make me feel thoroughly spoiled. 🙂
That is something to remember!! I love all the beautiful flower pics too, gorgeous!
I hope I can remember it too, @GourmetGetaway:disqus 🙂 I have such a dreadful memory that I HAD to get the magnet. 🙂
I think we all want to do big things but often the best way forward is to start with something small and small steps lead to bigger steps. I’m glad you’ve found satisfaction and joy in doing little gestures – little gestures do mean so much to those who are the recipient of the act of kindness xx
It makes me think of that old Bill Murray movie with “baby steps”. 🙂 I’m glad that little gestures are so meaningful to you too. 🙂 xo
Hi, Nice to meet you too! You’ve discovered one of the secrets of a happy life! Forget the big stuff, it’s the small stuff that counts!
It IS the small stuff that means the most, @nickistorey:disqus 🙂
I wish I had a magic wand and you would be as healthy in body as you are in spirit. Continue to be encouraged by the little things in life because most often we forget that those are what make life truly special. Not every day can be full of big dreams. It is important to remember the little things that get us through day by day.
Thank you for always caring about my well-being, dear Val, it means so much to me. 🙂 XO I am daily encouraged and daily given hope – so thankful for that. 🙂
What a beautiful sentiment, Krista. I just know things are going to turn around for you…hang in there!
Thank you so much, @inspiringtravellers:disqus I really appreciate your support. XO
This post reminds me of when I was able to wander in our own olive grove. 🙂
Yes, that feeling of being in your own place, on your own land, it is amazing, @LindyLouMac:disqus xo
Oh, I love this. My life seems full of small things right now and the big things are huge question marks which cause anxiety and fear. But I can still do small things with great love and know that the big things will sort themselves out. Thank-you.
I’m so glad this was encouraging to you, dear @breannemosher:disqus XO The big things are scary question marks for me too. I’m so glad we have each other to give each other courage. XO
Krista, such a beautiful post… your woodland would be the perfect place for children to run around and explore! Like you, I love to walk in nature and have found it to be the most comforting in times when things that were out of my control were almost too much to bear. Walking around the lakes in my region, I would treasure the tiny families of wrens who darted about in the bushes… I always thought of them as my little angels. And there are always so many lovely surprises in the flora too. Love your saying… holding it in my heart.
I love that you have little wren angels, @lizposmyk:disqus XO How wonderful to have so many beautiful places to walk through. 🙂
Gorgeous pics! Flowers are the best!!!
Thank you, @AndiPerullo:disqus 🙂 They are wonderfully cheering things, aren’t they? 🙂
Your surroundings are so beautiful. love all the foliage and littler flowers. Your magnet saying is spot on.
Thank you, @disqus_Jw8DFomFS9:disqus 🙂 I feel so thankful for this place of peace to live in.
That is such a great saying…definitely something to think about!
Yes, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus , it was just what I needed. 🙂
Wonderful words. I think that we are so bombarded by media in our lives, which makes everything bigger than life, that it easy to forget that it is small, everyday words and action that really matter.
I’ve been thinking the same thing, Tracy, and have been clarifying the information I’m welcoming into my life. It’s so good to just have a few good, good things instead of a scattershot blast of things that distract me from what really matter. 🙂
I cried through this one… so beautifully true Krista… and God knows all your dreams … with Bear is a good place to rest up and be safe and loved…
I have been on night check for baba goats two nights already… four little baas to snuggle so far… little gifts from our Father’s good hand but they fill my heart with such joy. Last night every two hours I awoke and made my rounds… at the 2 AM round I had my head down as I worked my way down the hill, heavy coat and hat and hoody and scarved as well. I just happened to lift up my gaze and was astonished at the splendor of the Northern Lights…up down around… swirls of pure white angel hair and streams of dancing light… my goats were sleeping and it was cold out but I couldn’t go back in to sleep so soon. I danced and sang and squealed and Wowed and just lay there watching this amazing gift. On my 4 AM watch the sky was back to its blackness and star studded in brilliant beauty but the Northern Lights were just a little gift for that passing hour earlier… I wanted the whole world to see it… such glory.
little things like… my son called this morning and my two daughters… and I received a good report. Little Nicholas who when in Dec came home to be Shoshanna’s fourth adopted son, and had stage four renal failure just had tests come back showing significant recovery since being with Shoshi’s loving little family.. a little boy, a little improvement… it fills my heart to overflowing.
My Eduardo happy to come home and sad to leave each morning (though I know he loves his day teaching 10 year olds) but he loves me… yay
snow… not little but clean and fluffy and caught in the sun’s brightness… a little rest till Spring labours begin in earnest with gardens and goathearding and cheese making…
Blessing to you dear friend. you are cherished. Your beautiful heart overflows! A hug to Bear for us~ ours are hibernating.