Love is in the small things
I’ve just returned from a trip to London. I wouldn’t call this a “small” thing (in reference to my blog title). On the contrary, this journey was an awesome experience.
But, many small things came together to make this week an experience I will remember with joy.
Long trips on an airplane can be cramped, uncomfortable, and boring, yet on this journey, our food was eatable, the flight attendants mostly attentive, and turbulence nearly non-existent. And, although we had to race through terminals to make our connecting flight, lines moved quickly and airport personnel were friendly. Fellow passengers willingly helped stow and retrieve my carry-on luggage.
London is enormous, a blend of history and modernity. Of course, I wanted to see everything, but that’s impossible in such a short time. Tourist attractions were packed, but both visitors and workers were polite.
Immense crowds at Buckingham Palace prevented our view of the changing of the Guard, but we were amused by the police officer in charge of controlling the masses. He interacted freely with the crowd, using humor to ease the delivery of constant directives to “keep the pathway clear.”
The “tube” is essential for London travel. Busy underground stations throughout the city are crowded as passengers rush from one loading area to another or upstairs to residential or business districts. But, through it all, London residents offered their seats on packed trains and provided directions for confused tourists.
We found kindness everywhere we traveled.
My husband is an avid viewer of news shows. Typically, reports focus on what is wrong with our world–with emphasis on violence, hatred, and discord. Yet, my trip was a pleasant reminder that people are good and kindness is not a forgotten trait.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24
Attitude is important.
I will acknowledge that I went into my journey with a positive attitude. When we travel with a group, the need for tolerance is vital. Whatever the number of people in the group, that’s the number of differing opinions. In advance, I made a silent vow to be patient and kind in all circumstances and I’m happy to say that, most of the time, I succeeded.
Look for the best in people and circumstances.
If we focus on good qualities of people and appreciate the positive aspect of our circumstances, we’re going to be more content in life. In contrast, if we look for the negative, we will find it.
My journey to England was more enjoyable because I recognized the goodness of those I met. I observed and appreciated their kindness. One of our most memorable experiences was a trip to the Cotswold Region. We took a train to Moreton-in-March where we were met by a delightful mother and daughter duo that transported us through the region in vans.
It was a step back in time as we visited centuries old English villages, dined in a 16th century country pub, and toured historical churches.
Again, I received a blessing of kindness. My driver checked to determine who might suffer from motion sickness (that’s me)! She assigned me the front seat for the duration of our tour. The other five passengers kindly did not grumble about being relegated to the middle and rear seats.
The final stop on our tour was Secret Cottage*, the home of our tour hostesses. They served us an amazing English Tea.
Two important lessons I gleaned from my experience:
Recognize and acknowledge the kindness of others.
Show love for others through my actions.
Sometimes our kindness is most recognized in the small things–a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand.
Treat others with kindness.
What other “small” things can we do to help our world be a more loving place? Can you share a memory of someone’s small act of kindness that made a difference in your life?
We can each make a difference.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32.
*www.secretcottage.co.uk I highly recommend this tour if you visit England. The guides and the experience were wonderful.
What a wonderful mindset to remind us about. Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures and your attitude toward others. many people would have been annoyed by not seeing the changing of the guard or being crowded together in the tubes. It’s so important to show kindness, recognize kindness, and be grateful for what God has put in front of us.
Thanks for your kind comment, Joshua. I admit there have been times in my life that I would have been VERY annoyed by some of my experiences on this trip. But, I’m so thankful that God has led me to become more kind, tolerant, compassionate, and grateful. That is truly a gift from Him–I couldn’t have done it on my own. Wishing you a blessed week!
Having a proper attitude makes a huge difference in everything we do. And I’m so glad your tour guide considered motion sickness. As one who is also afflicted, I understand how much that little thing mattered! It sounds like it was a wonderful trip.
Yes, we know what a gift it is to be able to experience and enjoy travel without motion sickness. It’s a blessing when someone knows and helps us avoid the misery that accompanies that affliction. I’m so grateful for the kindness of our tour guide and my fellow passengers who didn’t complain about not getting their turn in the front seat. It gives me hope to know that there is still so much love and kindness in our world.
You are so right Ms. Katherine. By paying attention to our “small things” we can make the “big things” in life much more enjoyable. As for the wonder of seeing villages and buildings older than America itself; that has always been the best part of traveling thw world.
Those small things are often our richest blessings and make such a difference in the lives of others when we share those blessings. You are right–America has such a “recent” history that we tend to forget the vibrant history of other countries. Wishing you an awesome week on the ranch, my friend.
Thanks for the reminder that small things matter. When I choose to obey God and love others in my every day activities, they actually add up to be a lot of love.
I agree, Joanna! When we share our love through acts of kindness, the blessing of love we receive in return is amazing. And, as you point out, our obedience to God is the central aspect.
I traveled in Europe last spring and saw some of the sights in London you wrote about, so I enjoyed your post very much. Travel in a foreign country would be even more difficult without the kindness of strangers which you acknowledge and express gratitude for here.
I’ve been blessed to have several trips to Europe and each time I’ve been so blessed by the kindness of residents. I hope that we in the United States are as kind to our visitors.
Katherine, I love your outlook! I found many personal takeaways here, whether traveling near or far. And the pictures are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Beckie. I had such a great time in England I wanted to share my joy! Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you and your family a wonderful 4th of July.
England is on my bucket list. More importantly, thank you for the reminder that love is in the small things. The pictures are beautiful. y the way, I needed the reminder.
You’ll love England, Jimmie, but there’s so much to see. I want to go back a dozen more times! I’m working on putting more love into the small things to share with others. Wishing you blessings, my friend.
Katherine, I loved your post. It brought back memories of the times I spent in England when my husband was in the Navy. I, also, loved touring the historic sites and the castles. I love castles! I’m so glad you had a positive experience. I can’t remember any negative issues we had with rude or ill-mannered people while we were there either. I do remember when we were getting on trains at the Underground, the speaker would broadcast “Mind the Gap” telling people to be careful of the space between the platform and the train car. So glad you had a good time!
Barbara, I expect you had a lot of time to explore. We had an awesome experience which I guess is why I’m already wanting to go back! We spent a lot of time on the tube so I definitely remember the “mind the gap” phrase and the one to “stay behind the yellow line.” Some of those fast trains went by so fast I didn’t even want to be close! Trains are so convenient in big cities–it seemed even more awkward to deal with traffic when we returned. Happy 4th of July!
Recognize and acknowledge the kindness of others.
Show love for others through my actions.
These is great advice! It’s awesome that you were able to travel and lift up such a positive attitude!
As we all know, sometimes showing a good attitude when we really want to scream and stomp our feet can only be attributed to God’s loving intervention. So thankful He has led me to better live by the Fruit of the Spirit. I couldn’t do it without His help. Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July!