We tend to imagine that the things which shape a life must be grand — dramatic moments, major decisions, or unmistakable turning points. Yet Scripture reminds us that God often works through what seems small, unnoticed, or ordinary. Jesus speaks of mustard seeds and widow’s mites (Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 12:41–44). Paul reminds us that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58), even when it feels insignificant. God’s measurements are on a different scale than ours.
I want to share two stories with you; one from my own childhood and one that was shared with me some time ago. I am not aware if the latter tale is of a fictional nature or not, but it certainly has an excellent moral to it. Both are reminders of the strength of small things.
When I was a boy of nine or ten years old, I went out to check the mail. As I recall, the weather was warm, so it could have been anywhere from late spring to early fall. As I was coming back to the house from the road, I noticed that my brother — who is nine years older than me — was sitting by the carport reading the Bible.
Something about that moment settled into me. I decided then that was the thing to do.
Years later, I mentioned it to him. He had no recollection of it at all. To him, it was just an ordinary moment on a regular day. But it planted a seed within me and nudged my heart even more toward Scripture, shaping the trajectory of my life in ways that neither of us could have anticipated. It was a mustard seed moment — small, quiet, and easily forgotten by the one who planted it, yet deeply fruitful in the life of the one who received it.

A similar story is told about a college professor who took a day off to go fishing with his young son. The boy talked about it for days afterward — how wonderful it was, how much fun he had, how much he loved being with his Dad. The day was full of conversation, laughter, and simple joy.
Decades later, after the father passed away, the son looked through his dad’s journal to find his father’s recollection of that fateful day.
But on that date, the father had written only one line:
“Did not do much today. Took Bobby fishing.”
To the father, it was a small thing, but to his son, it was everything.
It shaped their relationship and set its course in the right direction. It became a memory that he not only carried for the rest of his life, but one that shaped it for the better.
Scripture tells us, “Do not despise the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10). God delights to work through the ordinary — a quiet example, a simple kindness, a moment of attention, a word spoken in passing, a prayer whispered when someone comes to mind.
We rarely know the full impact of these moments. We may forget them entirely. But God does not forget (Hebrews 6:10). He multiplies what we offer, even when it feels small in our hands (John 6:9–13).
So, plant the seed. Speak the word. Offer kindness. Take the time. You may think it’s little to nothing. But in God’s hands, it may become something that changes a life and redirects generational destiny.