Power of Small Choices

The gift of choice, and the return gift of that choice being acknowledged.

Nearly everything in life costs something - whether an exchange of energy, time, etc., - or the selection of one thing over another in a moment; choice costs something.

We have all known the sting of being taken for granted. How time after time after time we give, we choose, we sacrifice, and although many times unintentionally that exchange/sacrifice is overlooked, it can take the toll on a heart..... and you end up with that one straw that finally exhausts a soul.

I often speak of being the small miracle of love to someone. But how often do we feel that magic of being the recipient of that small miracle and say 'thank you'? As much as being that to someone is needed in this world today - sometimes saying 'thank you' can become that miracle.

Recognition of being chosen - whether in sharing the burden of someone's moment of tired weakness or stress, in celebrating life's great milestones and movements forward, having someone approach you and ask you to dance, in simple sharing a meal at a common table where wisdom, pain, and belly laughter is sprinkled like the richest flavoring salt you could dash on a dish... - that moment of saying 'thanks' for those moments can shock and humble someone.

But it is worth it to say thank you. That to them what may be a simple, common, everyday action they didn't think twice about could become something so great to someone else.

Those small moments can last forever in the recipient's heart.

She probably doesn't remember it, and I could tag her, but.... - I was reminded a while ago about being a recipient of that love.

I was still going through the divorce, WT2 maybe a year or so old, and we were in the sanctuary at church and he had fallen asleep on my lap - but not before pretty much emptying the entire diaper bag on the floor as that kept him occupied and quiet during service.

Service ended, my arms full, and well, the bag isn't going to pack itself. So in my bare feet, my monkey ninja toes got to work packing my bag while I kept WT2 asleep.

She is, I'm pretty sure, not a foot person to begin with, but she had seen from the row ahead of me what I was doing and quietly came around to my row, packed the bag for me and put it on the chair next to me so I didn't have to bend over to get it. As silently as she came over, she left. I gave her the 'thank you' look and smile as we were trying to keep the babe asleep, and we left and went our ways.

Something so small. But she chose to act on a need. She could have just left in her horror of me putting things in my bag with my bare feet (because single moms always find a way), but she chose to act kindly.

I've never forgotten that act. A reminder of how something so tiny could have an impact that's lasted these 10 years since she did that.......

But how many times do we receive and not say thank you? We may not get the chance. The world works that way often times.

However, when we can, do we? Good Midwesterners will brush it off, we've been socially conditioned to do that. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it - or receive that moment of thanks from a grateful heart.

If we treated our significant others like that how many divorces could be avoided? How many friendships could be salvaged? If we just took a few mere seconds to stop and recognize the bit of love we have been shown.

That which is recognized positively is more likely to continue. Encouragement for one to continue on looking for those opportunities. Investment in a heart that wants to give kindly - that positive synergy that begets more, increased greatness of positive love outpouring.

Look for the ways to be the small miracle of love every day, but don't forget to say thank you when the universe returns the favor to the giver.

©Kristen Garcia 04-2020