Do Little Things Matter?

True confessions!! This blog is a bit of a personal challenge. As I watch myself, and those around me, there is a revealed pattern.

Over a week ago my wife, Cathy, and I had just arrived home from a restful two week vacation in south Florida. Monday morning hit with a torrent, not just a stream, of work to do. There were clients to connect with and opportunities to pursue. At one level all good things. At another level, not so good.

As I was leaving our home that Monday morn, I was seriously in the zone of running full tilt into my day. A distant voice inside was reminding me to shout out “I love you” to my bride of over 30 years. Not perfect, yet a practiced pattern of our marriage.

What struck me is how quick, and I am not happy to confess, I justified getting-out-the-door without saying anything. I actually debated the 4.2342684 seconds it would take to remind my bride that I love her and am “with her” during the day. (“Keep Your “I Love You’s Current!”)

As Mavericks, we are “successful” in the major things of life, at work and at home, because we have attended to the little things. Goals achieved, businesses growing, relationships with family and friends, conflicts resolved, and so much more, are all accomplished because we have attended to the little things.

Jesus was the master of the BIG PICTURE for sure. He was also the master of the little things.

He was so clear on His purpose, His reason for being, His mandate with His team and more. He was also very clear that the journey to fulfilling those very things was a result of executing well, in the moment, in the little things.

Here are just a few examples.

1. John 4:1-38. While returning to Galilee, Jesus stops and engages with the Samaritan women at the well.
2. John 2:.1-12. Jesus hangs out a wedding. While there he responds to a need and turns water into spectacular wine.
3. John 2:13 – 22. Jesus doesn’t ignore the abuse He sees while attending the Passover. He gets involved and clears the temple.
4. John 8:1-11. While at the temple, Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders again. This time He steps in and advocates for the adulterous women.

I am often reminded of stories where a miss on the little things became, or potentially could have been, disastrous!

I remember clearly:

1. Watching the Challenger Shuttle take off in January 1986. Although there were some who knew the significant risk of disaster with a “tiny” part called an “O Ring”, the drive to launch on time was greater than the cost of a potential delay. 73 seconds after lift off, the shuttle exploded and 7 astronauts died.

2. Lying on an operating table waiting for a knee surgery. The surgeon came over with my chart in his hand. He moved the sheet off of my right knee. After a few comments, he proceeded to mark 3 X’s on my knee as insertion points for his work. As he was doing it I said to him, “Doc, it’s the other knee!”. He glanced down at the chart, realized his mistake and proceeded to make his marks on my left knee!

Ignoring the little things really does matter! Sometimes the price of going fast and ignoring them can be catastrophic.

Habitual “little” things grow and become the big things!

Think about those “little” moments of:

• Pride
• Gossip
• Shoddy work
• Too hurried to stop and care
• Harsh words, or no words
• Tolerations of worry, anxiety, lust, greed
• Negative self-talk and more

What prices are you paying when you choose to ignore the little things needing attention in your life, in your core relationships, in your team and your business?

So back to my story. I did shout out, “I love you, have a good day!” And Cath responded with an “I love you” in return. In that 4.2342684 seconds reconnection was made. My bride and I knew that, as we went into the day, we were “good” with one another. We knew that regardless of what was to happen that day, we had taken care of the little things.

Although far from perfect I am learning that the little things really do matter. Do they matter to you? If so, have you taken care of the little things?

A Maverick Application:

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:22-25 

1. What is God asking of you as you read James 1:22-25?
2. Are there areas of your life where you are ignoring the little things that you know make a BIG difference?
3. What specific actions may He want you to take?
   1. An apology to offer?
   2. A compliment to give?
   3. An encouragement to provide?
   4. A “yes” to workout?
   5. A “no” to a second helping?
   6. A “yes” to bed on time?
   7. A “you fill in the blank” to ???
4. Who do you need to share this with to help support and encourage you to take care of the little things in your life at work and at home?