Yesterday evening I sat across the table from a young woman I’ll call Pam (not her real name) and listened as she told her story of struggle, pain, and eventual light. The bowl of chili I had in front of me turned cold because I became so enthralled with her story that I forgot to eat ( a rarity for me). Pam shared her journey of an early pregnancy, an abusive husband, and an out-of-control teenage daughter. Several times she had to stop to regain composure and wipe the tears from her eyes. Just a few months ago, she was ready to give up. She didn’t know what to do or where to turn. Then a woman came into her life that Pam called a “Godsend.” This woman simply listened, encouraged, and cared. She was there for Pam when Pam needed her. The new friend worked with Pam’s daughter and loved on her as well. Over several months tremendous change happened in Pam’s life. For the first time in a long time she had hope. She started to laugh again and to enjoy being with her family.
Pam said of her relationship with her new friend, “It has changed me. It has changed the way I see myself, the way I relate, and how I care for my children. I have learned things I will pass on to my children and to my grandchildren.” It occurred to me as I listened to her story that the small things we do for others–caring, loving, being there, encouraging, sharing our time and our knowledge–can have a profound affect on other people. In addition, there is a ripple effect–a friend changed another friend, who will change her children, who will change their children. The generational cycle of poverty or abuse or failure can be altered by the caring love of another person willing to invest what they have in another person’s life.
Scripture re-emphasized this lesson to me this morning as I read Jesus’ words in Luke .
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”
Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Luke 13:18-21)
I used to think these passages had something to do with our verbal witness. That is, whenever we told someone about Jesus, it had the potential to do great things in their lives and God’s kingdom of people would grow numerically. I think differently now. The kingdom of God is the living out of God’s love in our lives. Just a little bit goes a long way. Just the smallest seed of love or a pinch of caring in the dough of someone’s life works absolute miracles. This is not to say that we are only expected to give the smallest amount we can. Rather, the meaning is that God can use our smallest offerings to change the landscape of people’s lives.
Each of us have something to offer, some small thing–a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a caring spirit, a skill of labor. When we use these seeds and leaven in the the lives of others they are transformed. Their lives are changed. Our small offering of love becomes a mighty tree that bears fruit of its own. The consistent kneading of our caring into the life of someone else grows them into great sources of food for others. The kingdom of God is within us. It is found in the small things God has given to us that we have to share with others. When we do, the kingdom is multiplied beyond our imagination.
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