The little things that change the world

So often we think that the little things we do make no difference but I believe every kind action, kind thought has a profound effect…….. some of which we hear about.  For example I was very touched by a story I read in my local paper The Worthing  Herald about a young family who were so moved by the things that are happening in the world they decided to send a large red heart shaped helium filled balloon up into the air with what they called “a message of love to the world.”  They had no idea where it would end up, in fact thinking it would probably get stuck in a tree at the end of their road.  You can imagine how surprised and inspired they were to get a WhatsApp message the next day from  another young family in Germany whose 3 children were on their way back from football training when they saw a red heart shaped balloon indeed stuck in a tree with a “message of love to the world” attached to it.  The German family in turn were so inspired that the children immediately began raising funds to support the refugees pouring out of war torn Ukraine which in turn inspired the Worthing family to do the same……. The little things that change the world.  

What a lovely story!!  And they in turn inspired us in Storm Worthing to have red heart shaped balloons at our Mothering Day Sunday for people to write encouraging messages on to give away! 

So many inspiring stories coming out of Ukraine at the moment, in the middle of all the darkness.  I loved the newspaper report of the bin men in Kyiv who have refused to stop collecting the refuse in the capital city despite it being under siege by Russian  forces.  It seems  particularly telling at the moment when our own bin men in Adur&Worthing are on strike and rubbish is starting to pile up all over the town while their fellow bin men in war torn Ukraine continue to work believing that the little thing that they can do, can make a real difference.  One team leader in Kyiv is quoted as saying “everyone has their front line and this is ours.” The little things that change the world!

And I especially love the story of the 1.5 million tulips that were laid out in the form of a trident (National symbol of Ukraine) in the square in the centre of Kyiv…….. such a gentle act for a city community facing bombs and tanks but so powerful in the midst of such ugliness to defiantly create something so generous and beautiful. Craftivism at its best. The little things that change the world! 

I watched with a tender heart today as one son supported another as his team lost a football match they would have dearly loved to have won………. As the wise old prophet Zechariah once wrote “do not despise the day of small things…….. for it is not by might, not by power but by my Spirit” that the world is changed! Revie G April 2022