My sister-in-law just lost her sister to leukemia. She was reflecting on all the people who had helped care for her sister during her long illness. She regretted not being able to give more of her own time. We talked about the huge committment it is to care for an ailing loved one and maintain your own life. She said her sister was most appreciative of the small things others did for her--which we realized didn't require a huge effort from the giver. One might read to her for a short time, another might bring in a few pansies from their garden, another might update her on neighborhood happenings, while still another might just fluff up her pillow and bring her a cool drink. Small things had made a difference to this dying woman.

Most of us don't realize the impact of small and simple things on other people's lifes. We often do nothing because we think big things are all that count and we just don't have time. When we don't act, we miss out on blessing others' lives and the resulting happiness it brings to us.

I'm interested in hearing stories about small things that have made a positive difference in your life. Please share what the small thing was and how it impacted your life. It can be something someone else did for you or that you figured out for yourself--anything that impacted you in a positive way.