The Importance of Little Things

by David J. Stewart

 

       I just wanted to write a quick article about "little things."  I have noticed over the years that many people are shallow.  Little things really don't matter to most people.  I'd like to share a few of those little things with you.  Hopefully you'll learn from them. 

I go to shake a mans hand and he looks over my shoulder at the wall.  I've had this happen often.  For a while I thought people were just disrespecting me, but eventually I realized that's it's just bad manners.  If you're going to shake someone's hand, look them square in the eyes.  It just says, "I respect you as a person."  I can't tell you how many times a man has come up to shake my hand while looking elsewhere and saying "hi" to someone else.  Do you know what I do?  I don't let go of his hand until he looks me in the eye.  I did that to my boss one time and he looked at me weird.  I said while smiling, "Now look at me this time when you shake my hand."  I'm not kidding!  I really felt he was disrespecting me and I told him about it.  Please look people in the eye when you shake their hand.

Saying thank you is very important.  I invited a Christian man out to eat and he didn't even bother to say "thank you."  I didn't get upset or say anything because I figured he had a lot on his mind.  If that be true, he has too much on his mind.  You should ALWAYS say thank you to people.  We are living in a generation of ingrates.  By the way, I owe my late pastor, Dr. Jack Hyles, a debt of gratitude which cannot be adequately expressed in words for teaching me the importance of little things.  We should always be thinking about "others" as brother Hyles taught, not ourselves.

Recently at my job, the management recognized Asian-American month in May.  They had a little free dinner for all the employees.  We all formed a line to pass by the food table.  While we were getting our food, a Philippina woman began to give a short speech of gratitude for the Asian people.  I watched the Caucasian guy in front of me load his plate and walk out the door.  He didn't even think to at least hear the speech.  I wondered what the Asian people thought.  Maybe they didn't even notice, but I think someone probably did.  I stayed to hear the speech.  Though it was a little thing to me, I didn't want to hurt those people's feelings.  No, I really didn't want to hear the speech, but maybe they wanted me to hear it.  Maybe they noticed me, maybe they didn't.  At least if they did, they knew I cared enough to listen.  We can really be selfish sometimes if we're not careful.

I watch people toss their garbage out of their cars onto the parking lot or street.  I see people throw papers out their car window.  Folks, get some manners!  The world is not your personal trash can.  Someone has to pick that up.   God doesn't like when we are selfish and only think about ourselves.  I don't care how good of a Christian you may think you are, you are a phony in my book if you expect other people to clean up after you.  I like that sign that says," Your mother doesn't work here so you'll have to clean up after yourself."  Don't leave a mess for others, be courteous.

When you say your going to be somewhere at a certain time, be early!  To be on time is to be late.  It's best to get there 10 to 30 minutes early than to be one minute late.  You can sit in your car and go in at the last minute, but be there. 

Don't make promises you can't keep.  I know breaking promises is no little thing, but to a lot of people it is.  I work with a woman who always forgets to bring things she says she is going to bring.  Isn't that lying?  I know she just forgot, but it bothers me that she's so quick to say things that she doesn't mean.  She was supposed to bring me an article we talked about, then a book, then a recipe for my wife, then a business address, etc.  I never saw any of it.  Why does she make all those promises and then not keep them?  It's simply because she doesn't consider them promises.   I lent her a book many months ago and she still hasn't returned it.  Now, she's not a bad person, she just doesn't think it's very important to mean what she says.  To me that is critically important.  A man is only as good as his word.  Say what you mean, mean what you say!  I like direct people who say it like it needs to be said.   The truth can be dealt with, but a lie cannot.  If you know you are a forgetful person, then don't make commitments.  If I tell you I'm going to bring you a book, as far as I'm concerned I've made you a promise.

As Christians, we should to be smarter than the average bear.  We should set the example.  It's a shame that some unsaved people have more character than many believers.  I've just shared a few things with you, but there are many more...I think you get the message.  Little things are important!

Sincerely, Dave