Little Things Mean a Lot

Prayer helps me so often with small, daily issues. Sometimes I just cannot decide on something for dinner. When the three of us adults are home together, I need a 3-person meal. Sometimes I just cannot make up my mind. I’ve been trying to say a prayer the night before, and usually, I get an answer by morning. It helps me to know what to buy or what to defrost.

I pray often for fortitude. That’s probably not a word used much today. At least, it’s not used in the sense that I use it. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary says it means: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage. For me, it means the strength to do something that I just do not feel like doing. The pain or adversity is mental, usually, because I am obviously procrastinating and do not feel like doing whatever it is I need the fortitude to do - got that? So, I pray for the strength to do something that I know I should do but I do not want to do - at least I do not want to do it right now. Most times, in very short order, I find that strength.

I also pray for strength or wisdom for others. When the advice I cannot help giving at age 69, or I am biting my tongue to resist giving, when that advice will probably not be acted on, then I try to step out of the way and pray that God will take over and help that person. It’s very possible that what I was advising might be wrong for that person, at that time. God knows best and I need to move out of the way. Prayer is the only way I can get through to my urge to help more than I should.

These are just small things, but they are important in my life. I’m happy to be a person of faith. Without it, life would be far more difficult than it is.

Father, I really do appreciate all the help you give me, especially in the little things in my day, the things that can be the most annoying or frustrating; thank you.