By Amber Kinloch
Early one morning, I was pouring myself a mug of coffee. I added cream first, followed by the coffee. As I filled up my mug, I thought my coffee could use a touch more cream. Then a thought struck me.
Why not pass on adding more cream? It was Friday, a day of penance according to Catholic tradition. Why not start the day with this tiny sacrifice?
But then again…did it really matter? What difference did it make whether I added an extra splash of cream to my coffee? It was so insignificant.
Then God reminded me that He created bugs. Bugs, those tiny, creepy, crawly things we stamp on without a second thought. Nobody sheds a tear over the death of a bug. We hardly even notice their presence unless they’re bothering us.
Yet there are whole worlds of these tiny creatures filling our planet. We take no notice of them, yet God is mindful of the existence of every single one. If He takes heed of a minuscule ladybug, will He not take notice of even the tiniest sacrifice made for love of Him?
Many of us are returning to the full swing of work and school. The pressure is on to get things done, and we might be tempted to let things slide with our spiritual life, distracted as we are by other duties.
How about we stay focused by offering up many tiny sacrifices? We could spare a minute to put our dishes in the dishwasher. We could pause to say “hello” to a new person at our workplace. We could mortify ourselves at a meal by eating a little more of what we don’t like or a little less of what we do. We could wake up five minutes earlier to have time for prayer or make an extra effort to smile when we’re weary.
Don’t doubt the value of microscopic sacrifices. It’s not about the size or greatness of the sacrifice—it’s about the scope of your love.
Amber Kinloch
Amber writes from the bunker of her living room. There she hunkers down with her laptop and a blanket while keeping an eye and ear tuned in to the activity of family life. Music set on loop keeps her energy flowing as she muses on the deeper happenings of ordinary life and what food to restock the fridge with.
Thank you. I often find it hard to sacrifice on Friday, but this just made it easier for me to start.
Fatima Message:
Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High. Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You will thus draw down peace upon your country. I am its Angel Guardian, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the suffering which the Lord will send you.”
Our whole ecosystem would be in a world of hurt without all those little bugs! What a great read.
Thank you so much for these examples of little sacrifices!
Great reminder we can do little things with great love as did our Little Flower. Little things might grow into great things 🥰🙏
O My Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Thank you for that!!!!
Yes… little mortification are exquisite in the eyes of God. Thanks to Opus Dei’s means of formation…I learned all of this from the numeraries and associates of the Work.
Perhaps small sacrifices will lead to bigger ones.
Very encouraging, thank you so much! I try to look at it this way when I’m hungry and lunch is delayed because I’m assisting someone in crisis; or listening to someone who needs to talk; it hurts us not a bit to “suffer” just a little, especially when it helps another, AND pleases God.
Thank you for expressing this so beautifully.
St Therese for sure…little things with Love!
These……..these are the true Body of Christ!!! Thank you for the little reminder that the least I can do is still the greatest of God’s love towards others!
So easy. I will be more aware of everything I do.
Yes! A little offering in the little way.
Beautiful! Reminds me of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. Thank you!