9.04.2007

The Little Things

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." (Robert Brault)

Isn't that the truth? Life is full of roadblocks. It's so easy to miss something -- and the truth is that when we have the time to go back and think about life's experiences, we learn, to our great regret, that those little things really were the big things. And we missed them.
Don't do it. Kiss that little one, chocolate face and all. Say hello to someone. Stop cleaning and straightening and build a fort. Bear your testimony when you feel prompted. Pause as you rush down the hall at church to hug a child or a teenager or whoever it is that needs you. Dance in the rain. Share your time. Speak your love.
These are the big things. Really.

11 comments:

Maren said...

Oh totally! Looking back, I've noticed some very small things turn INTO big things. Lovely quote. :)

Jori said...

Jan you really should write a book. You are so profound. Enjoying the little things is something I really need to work on.

Emily John said...

What a nice quote! It's so true. It's the little things that make the biggest difference. It also builds some great memories. Thanks for the thought!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan,
I finally had five minutes and deciceded to come check out your blog page (is that what it is called?) So I am currently living in Gooding, ID (bout 30 miles north of Twin Falls) As you saw in our pictures we just had our second child. Mailee is almost 2 and Carson is now 2 months. I taught the last three years at the deaf and blind school here. I decided to stay home this year, with two kids, and hopefully we will be able to make it. Brent is a welder and does repair work for a lot of the dairies around here. I moved to Idaho in 2003 to get my masters and met Brent. (He was my home teacher-we like to tease that he will never not have a testimony of home teaching.

So I see you are still in Texas-Do you like it? Your grandkids are adorable. IT was so good to hear from you.

Jacque

Jan said...

Jacque!! How fun to see you here! We love Austin -- I don't think we want to be anywhere else (which is pretty much a record for us!) Come visit!

hoLLy said...

i loved this post. it is so true. we sometimes lose sight of what is important in our life and that its the little things that really matter sometimes.

Nat Lud said...

Thanks for the reminder. I needed it yet again. It is so hard sometimes to just enjoy the little things. I'm doing good to just make it through the day. You always have such great posts. I'm with Jori--you should write a book!

Kristi said...

So ture!! great quote--it's the little things of everyday life that matter--I need to remember this and relax more, and let the kids be kids more often...I have much to work on...

Hayley said...

i love the part that says "life is full of roadblocks" - we all need four wheel drive!

Heather said...

Oh I love that. So true. I know that...if I could just always DO that, but I'm trying.

Holly O. said...

I love this too. I need all the reminders I can get!