Remember To Do The Little Things

This past week I interacted with at least 10 nurses, 10 doctors, five food service people and five cleaning people at the hospital. I was reminded how important it was to respect them and to value how each of them contribute to my recovery. I was also reminded how easy showing respect is to do. It’s a smile, a pleasant greeting and a please and a thank you. Also, the same respect for what they do should be shown to clerks, receptionists, waitresses and waiters and the many others we depend on to assist us , often, with things we take for granted.. Think about the time you had something to return that didn’t work. Did you charge up to the service desk with, “This thing is a piece of junk? “ It doesn’t work. I just drove nine miles round trip. I certainly didn’t expect to have to do that. Here, I need a replacement.” Wouldn’t have this exchange started better if you greeted the clerk first? Then, “could you please see if I am able to replace this?” Then, end with a “thank you.”

Say Please – “Grandma, may I please have more cake?” “Of course you may dear.” The question, asked this way, is hard to refuse.

While your prayers do not have to include a please, there is no reason not to include a “please.” I find that I have an opportunity each day to ask for something.

Dear Lord, Please help me trust you and trust in your timing. I tend to get impatient
and I tend to try to take matters in my own hands. I know this is a weakness of mine.
I am so sorry. Holy Spirit, please transform this part of me. Help me to trust in you
Lord and trust that your timing is best – in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Say Thank you – “Grandma, thank you. The cake was delicious.” This response sets the table, so to speak, for the next time there is cake to be had. This is one of the times when it is obvious that a “thank you” is warranted. There are many other opportunities to say thank you, even in the face of some difficult times. This is a prayer I use.

Thank You Lord for the roof over my head and a nice bed to sleep in

There’s food on my table and shoes on my feet. Your loving touch is everywhere.

Forgive me if I forget my great blessings, if I ever start to complain.

Only let me live each day full of praise and thanks immersed in your grace.

The third response in your arsenal should be I’m sorry. “I’m sorry” is needed more than we say it.

I went to see Ricki and the Flash yesterday and one of the songs was Canned Heat’s, Let’s Work Together. It has some great lyrics but I’m especially reminded of:

People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill
Let’s work together
Make someone smile
Let’s all work together
And make life worthwhile

Update – Well, once again I was the guest of Indiana University Hospital from last Friday until this week Tuesday evening. It was another run-in with bacteria in my blood. The bacteria is gone and infusion is scheduled to restart on Wednesday after a month off.

I want to share this poem that my sister-in-law Dorothy sent me.

Little Things
It’s just the little, homely things,
The unobtrusive, friendly things,
The “won’t-you-let-me-help-you” things,
That make our pathway light.

And it’s just the jolly, joking, things,
The “never-mind-the-trouble” things,
The “laugh-with-me, it’s funny” things
That make the world seem so bright.

For all the countless famous things
The wondrous, record-breaking things,
The “never-can-be-equaled” things
That all the papers cite

Aren’t like the little human things,
The everyday-encountering things.
The ”just because I like you” things
That make us happy quite.

So here’s to all the simple things,
The dear “all-in-a-day’s work” things,
The “smile and face your troubles” things.
Trust God to put them right.

The “done-and-not-forgotten” things
The “can’t-you-see-I-love-you” things,
The hearty “I-am-with-you” things
That make life worth the fight.

Stay Strong and Keep on Keepin’ On

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