The Grace of Thinking Small

Jake Frost shares some experiences with the big results that can come for our families when we seize the ordinary, everyday moments God sends us.

A practical tip for parents: Think small.

Look for small opportunities, and grab hold of them for all their worth.

It just might be more than we expect.

The idea is: Don’t waste the small opportunities because they aren’t grand.

Things don’t have to be massive and grand or not at all, and we don’t want to forego the ordinary opportunities while we wait for something big to come along.

Getting Dinner on the Table

It’s 6 PM; you’re home, and you’re trying to do four things at once: tidy the house, clear and set the table for dinner, and make the dinner that will eventually go on that table once it’s ready. And keep everyone happy while all this is happening.

And it’s got to be done in two hours, so you can get kids to practice on time later tonight.

You’re hustling. You throw away an old peanut butter and jelly sandwich that was left on the table from lunch, and see the trash is full, so you change the trash and hurry out to the garage to put the full bag in the garbage bin — which has to go to the curb tonight, don’t forget!

In transit from kitchen to garage, your son, who’s outside throwing a football up in the air to himself, spots you.

“Hey Dad!” he calls. “Want to play catch?”

You freeze, halfway between house and garage, garbage bag in hand, while processing the request.

Of course you want to play catch with your son! But you think: I can’t spend all night out here playing football! I’ve got to finish the cleaning, make dinner, and get the kids to practice on time!

But here is where you have to think small.

In our minds, we immediately go to playing football “all night,” when actually, a few minutes will do.

More than anything, what’s wanted is a smile, some kind words, a little attention: to feel the sun shining on an upturned face. And for our kids, the sunshine they seek most is from us, their parents.

Grab Hold of Those Five Minutes

I know we all wish we could play outside with our kids until dusk falls, then lay on grass talking with them while watching the stars come out, and the fireflies rise to float across the lawn, and listening to the crickets sing.

Those evenings are great.

But we can’t do that very often. We are busy. There are things that have to be done and schedules that do have to be kept.

But even on busy nights, we can still squeeze in five minutes.

That’s the power of thinking small.

Besides, it’s not an either/or choice. You can do both. Spend the whole night outdoors when you can — and grab the five minutes when you can. Take the opportunities God offers, whether they're big or small.

Otherwise, you just end up missing out on both.

So seize those little moments when you can, and watch a smile light a little face.

Making a Splash

The same kind of thing happened with a trip to the lake over the weekend.

We love lake days: packing the cooler; loading up the wagon with towels, floaties, buckets and shovels, flippers and goggles; and heading to the park to camp out for the day with the lake before us, the playground behind us, and an umbrella overhead.

But over the weekend we had commitments both afternoons — summer jobs, sports, things we had to do at home. So we couldn’t spend a whole day at the lake.

Instead, we pared down operations, packed light, and went for just two hours.

Two hours of sunshine, sparkling water, and good times together as a family.

It was wonderful.

Naaman and Elisha

A Biblical template might be Naaman and Elisha in Chapter 5 of the Second Book of Kings. Naaman, the great man, the commander of the armies of Syria, contracted leprosy. He heard of a prophet in Israel who healed. So, with great fanfare and a mighty train of soldiers and chariots and costly presents including talents of silver and shekels of gold, Naaman set out to seek the prophet.

When Naaman arrived in Israel, Elisha sent word to him to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan river. That was it. No need for an elaborate ceremony or the giving of extravagant gifts. Just dip yourself in the Jordan seven times, and have a great day!

Naaman was indignant.

He had expected something dazzling, full of pomp and drama building to a climactic miracle.

To simply go and take a dip in the Jordan? The rivers of Damascus, he said, from whence he had come, were far greater than the ordinary little Jordan.

So Naaman refused the opportunity-in-the-ordinary that was offered to him.

He wouldn’t do it.

Then one of his aids took him aside and said: If the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, you would have done it. If instead the thing he puts before you is simple, plain, ordinary, easily done right now, when and where you are, why not at least try it?

So Naaman did, and he was cured — completely healed. And utterly converted to the God of Israel.

It’s Surprising What Can Happen

It’s surprising what can happen when we take advantage of the ordinary opportunities of everyday life; they can transform us, the way that Naaman was transformed.

Extraordinary graces are to be found in ordinary things.

So when God offers those ordinary opportunities, see where they might lead!

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Copyright 2026 Jake Frost
Images: Canva