Importance of little things

My beloved children, I have wanted to describe to you some traits of our way of sanctifying ordinary life and converting it into a means and occasion of one’s own sanctity and that of others. We will achieve this goal if we bear in mind this condition: that we do not forget the importance of little things.

We could do well to recall that character from literature, dreamt up by a French writer, who tried to hunt lions in the hallways of his house and naturally did not find any. Our life is commonplace and ordinary. Trying to serve God in big things would be like trying to hunt lions in the hallways; like the hunter in the tale, we would be left empty-handed. Big things normally are found only in our imagination, rarely in real life.

But if Love is what motivates us, then in the course of our life how many little things we will find that need to be looked after; how many opportunities for doing some small service; how many difficulties (without overreacting) we will learn to treasure. These are small things that are hard, and we offer them up for some specific intention: the Church, the Pope, others in the Work, all souls.

My children, I repeat for you once more: We will have lost our way if we spurn little things. In this world, everything big is a collection of little things. Pay attention to what is little, look to the details. This is not some sort of fixation or obsession; it is affection, virginal love, having supernatural sense at every moment, charity. Always be faithful in small things for the sake of Love, with an upright intention and without expecting to receive a smile in return here on earth, not even a glance of appreciation.