The Small Stuff

I worked in a bookstore a number of years ago when the little book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff came out. We all struggle with anxiety, but it's usually not the small stuff that we're tempted to worry about. We also usually fail to take the small stuff to the Lord in prayer, thinking either that it's too small for Him to care about or that it will seem bothersome or ungrateful somehow on our part to trouble Him over it. God is teaching me this lesson right now. I've been one of those Christians who likes to hold onto the small stuff and only seeks God over the Big Stuff. Lately He's lovingly shown me that He does care about even the small stuff.

Yesterday Mr. Monk worked at the ranch with his grandparents and they paid him $5 for his labor. He realized almost immediately after coming in the house that he'd lost money. He was upset with himself and checked and double checked his jeans pocket where he'd placed it, to no avail. Then he went out in front of the house where he'd been dropped off and looked and couldn't find it. Then he looked in the backyard where he'd walked the dog around. He still couldn't find it. So he came in dejected and downcast. I almost didn't get up to look for it. It was only $5, after all. Then I thought better of it, got up and went out front. The sun had just set and it was getting dark quickly. In just a few minutes I wouldn't have any light left to look by. I said a prayer that went something like this. "Lord, I know this is a very small thing. It's only $5 and it's not important whether we find it or not. But I know You're able to do anything and I know You're good. Lord, if it be Your will, please help me find Mr. Monk's money." Within about 30 seconds I found all five dollar bills within a foot of one another. Now if God had chosen not to answer my little prayer in the affirmative, I would not have gone inside cursing God. Who am I to presume upon the Almighty? God can answer prayer any way He chooses. This is what makes Him God. But it was so cool to be able to go inside to my little kids and tell them how good God is and that He cares about something even as insignificant as Mr. Monk's lost $5.

The other way that God reminded me last night of His attention to even the smallest of details (I'm a slow learner) was through a little abandoned bunny that turned up in our yard. I am not an animal person. I've never in my adult life taken in a stray. I think those people are lovely, I'm just not one of them. So when my children brought this bunny to my attention I was mainly concerned that they leave him alone and not touch him. I used the old "bunnies carry diseases" line, which could be true, as far as I know, so it seemed like a good idea. Well, I could not get this bunny out of my mind. All afternoon, evening, and night I kept thinking of this little bunny out there alone without it's mama. At one point in the evening I asked Big D if he thought it was a sin to just leave it to die out there. He wasn't going to touch that with a 10 foot pole. I kept thinking maybe the mother would come back. I went so far as to look up on the internet how to care for a baby bunny, but I really didn't want to touch or handle this bunny (remember where Mr. Monk gets his germophobia from.)

At 1:30am I couldn't stand it anymore. I just couldn't do nothing knowing that poor little bunny was going to freeze to death in my backyard. So I emptied out the contents of a basket and layered a couple of washcloths in the bottom of it and grabbed some gloves, a flashlight, and a magazine (I was determined not to touch that bunny!). He was so cute that I instantly fell in love with him. I sterilized a medicine dropper and tried giving him a little warmed milk, but he wouldn't take it. Still, he seemed like he was ok and I made all sorts of plans about what I'd buy for him at the pet store today. Unfortunately he didn't make it. Big D and the kids buried him near the garden out back not far from where they first found him. I wish this story had a different ending, but the lesson for me is the same. God cares about even the little bunnies. I couldn't get that bunny off my mind because I knew God cared about him and if God cares then I should.
It's true that we shouldn't sweat the small stuff. We shouldn't sweat the big stuff, either. Nothing escapes God's care or His will and I'm so thankful that even the small stuff is included in the "everything" we're commanded to bring to Him in prayer.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" Philippians 4:6

"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Mathew 10:29-31