FIVE MINUTE FRIDAY
So now on Fridays a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write without worrying if it’s just right gather to share what five minutes buys them. While the kids are changing into their swimming suits, while the popcorn is popping, while the dog is outside doing his business, while the show cuts to commercial. Just five minutes.
Today, the prompt is: Small
“You think you’re so big!”
When I was a kid, this was a common playground retort. Actually, it was the child equivalent of a high insult.
“You think you’re so big!” What does that mean?
It means you think you think you are higher, better, and stronger; and you have power over me.
So the message here, from the mouth of a child, is: Don’t be big. Be small.
After all, it’s the small people who bring out the Christ in everyone.
Babies are little and cute and helpless, and we feed and hug them. Just like Jesus did.
The sick are in pain, or feel hopeless, and we bring them compassion and comfort. Just like Jesus did.
Friends and family, who have experienced a loss, allow us to support them as we attend the wakes and funerals. We come to be with them, and cry with them.
Just like Jesus did.
If someone is lost, we help by giving directions to show the way to the destination, whether they are lost physically or spiritually. Just like Jesus did.
If I am small, I will witness others being Christ to me. If I see someone in need, being ‘small’, I can be the hands and feet of Christ to them. It’s a win/win.
Back on the playground, let’s listen to that child’s response to a hurt. Maybe the world wants big. But the real grace? It’s in the small.
Linking today with
Five Minute Friday
Wonderful post.
Hi Denise! Thank you 😉 I am glad you liked it.
Happy Friday,
Ceil
Yes, good to be small
Hi Wendy! Nice to see you again.
It’s a good thing we don’t have to keep reaching to get ‘big’. Small is just fine.
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
I agree with Wendy Meijer! Amen! Ceil, thanks for visiting my blog post. Happy Tuesday!
Love this post Ceil, thank you. Such wisdom. Have a blessed weekend. Tara.
Hi Tara! I am so glad you liked the post. And if you saw wisdom, that’s really a gift.
Hope you are doing well, Tara.
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
This reminds me of the verse in 2 Corinthians 12:1; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Being small is the means by which God achieves some of His inmost work within our hearts. The point of our smallness is to draw us nearer to God and others!
Love what you did with the word “small”!
Blessings and hugs,
Denise
Hi Denise! So great to meet you today! Thank you for coming over, commenting and joining the blog. Yay! I know we’ll become good blog friends!
I know you are right, God likes us to be small, so he can do great things. If we are big already, what’s the use? I hope I can ‘get small’ so God will let me help him in the world.
Have a happy Friday!
Ceil
The real grace is in the small…YES!! Beautiful, Ceil.
Mary
http://www.marybonner.net/
Hi Mary! so nice to see you today! I loved your take on ‘small’ too. Let God be big, I’ll do the small stuff!
Peace in Christ,
Ceil
Yes, Ceil … when we are weak and small, His strength and grace are more easily seen. Now … to get out of the way and let Him shine!
Hi Linda! I agree! but when will I learn to get out of the way? I am my own worst enemy at times.
But if I’m small, He’ll shine brighter.
Thanks for visiting today!
Ceil
Look at the size of some of those seeds that grow into such large and wonder trees for generations to come and ponder. Who would think that something so small would become so great.
Look at all those people who started off so small with nothing, and now they grace the cover of our history books for all to read.
And why did God say he chose Israel? Wasn’t it because they were the fewest of people at the time? God has a way of using the smallest of things to make the grandest point.
Sometimes small is the best. Lovely post mate.
Hi Rum Punch! Wow, your website is a bee-hive! What a wonderful blog you have!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment today, I really appreciate it. God does love the small ones, and so it’s best to join in!
Please come again, I’d love to get to know you better
Ceil
I love this final line “but the real grace? it’s in the small.”
Thanks for sharing your words, and the truth that is not what the world tells us.
Happy Friday!
Melanie
HI Melanie! It was so nice to meet you today! Thank you for coming over to my blog.
So kind of you to comment on the writing. You know we all need a boost now and again. You are my ‘boost’ today. Thank you!
Happy Friday!
Ceil
Nice sharing Ceil. Being small, but big in the eyes of God. Being weak, but with God’s strength in us we can do the impossible. Small but terrible:)
Wishing you a nice weekend!
Hi Joy! Thank you for visiting today. I think you are right. God really loves it when we know our place! LOL! He wants us to remember he is the big one. Being small is the great big deal.
Peace,
Ceil
Excellent post, Ceil! I love coming here to your lovely site to be refreshed and challenged for the day
What you said reminds me of what C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Like Denise said above, the point of our smallness is to draw us closer to God.
Thanks for the inspiring words. Have a wonderful weekend. Big hugs!
Hello My Dear! I love seeing you, you make me feel so good
You are a born encourager.
I think CS Lewis is amazing, and your quote is right on target. What a way with words he had. I think if I remember that small is ‘where its at’ I’ll be a lot better off.
Blessings to you!
Ceil
Oh, my goodness I just read another post about the importance of being small. I think there is a message that is getting sent to me today? I love the way you put it and reminded me of the need to be small.
Lucy from Lucy’s Reality
Hi Lucy! Thank you for coming on over today! There is a bloghop on the word ‘small’ today, that’s why you see it so much. It’s fun, you should try it!
I hopped over to your blog, but it looks like you are taking a little break. Good for you! Come on back anytime, would love to see you
Peace,
Ceil
Yes. Giving and accepting grace is always in the being small. This truly is the way in the Kingdom of God yet so unnatural in the visible one we live in everyday. Thankful that God gives the power to be small.
Hi Cheri! It’s so fun to see you and your little friend on the blog.
You make an excellent point about how small looks in the world, and how good it is in the Kingdom. Good insight! Thanks
Happy Friday!
Ceil
“The real grace is in the small.” LOVE this! =)
Hi Natalie! Thank you for your always sunny encouragement!
You are such a wonderful blog buddy. So glad we got to know each other!
Ceil
Hey! I’l share the seat with you. I’m not greedy lol. Thanks for the comment! I agree about what you have to say about life on the playground. It still find myself thinking that about people now. “you think you are so big!” In my mind it is usually followed up by let me throw you in a room with 20 2 year olds and see who makes it out. hugs girl..glad to connect!
Hi Casey! Thanks, because I’ll take up a lot of room!
Nothing like a herd of two year olds to level the playing field! They really know that they are small, but they are very determined, aren’t they?
So nice to meet you today!
Ceil
Dead Ceil
This reminds me so much that we need to be weak for Jesus to be strong, ashes for Him to bring beauty, small for Him to be big and so forth! Let us be the little ones for our big God to shine through our smallness!
Blessings XX
Mia
Hi Mia! I think you got the point exactly, Mia.
Let’s all be little, so God can shine through!
Ceil
Great post Ceil, and so true! Thank you for visiting my blog.
Hi Sarah! It was so nice to meet you! Thank you for visiting me.
I am so glad you liked the post. It really is a lovely way to reflect on being ‘small’.
Have a lovely weekend!
Ceil
Great post Ceil! There’s no room for arrogance in the kingdom, no room for anyone who thinks that they are bigger than anyone else. Humility. It all starts there. Blessings!
Hi Angel! I think you are right…small and humble go hand-in-hand.
We are all here for the same reasons, so why try to think that one is better than the other? Good insight! Thanks
Happy Saturday,
Ceil
Hello Ceil,
I had tried leaving a comment several times today and was unable to do so. I had started using the Blog Lovin’ app last night and it was from that point that I wasn’t able to leave comments here. SO…it just now occurred to me to try going to my dashboard on Blogger and trying to enter your site from my reading list there. It worked! I’m so glad!
Oh yes…the real grace is in the small! I’ve been reading a book by Jerry Bridges on Transforming Grace. He mentions the same thing in many different ways.
I always enjoy coming here and basking in your cheerful spirit!
Hi Dianna! I am so glad you hung in there and kept trying! I have bloglovin’ too, but I don’t think it has blocked me from commenting. Hmmm…I’ll keep my eyes open for that.
Your book sounds great, and what a concept Transforming Grace is. All around us, and ready to change us for the better. Love it!
Peace,
Ceil
I want to be small, be humble…thats what I pray everyday Ceil. I am worried that oneday everything changing than push my self to be big.
While everyone chasing their dreams to look so big, I don’t know what I supposed to do, I just want to keep myself humble to Jesus and so let Him appears in me and not myself. I even dont care about my dreams to look so big someday and so people do not humility us again, I give all to Jesus for what makes me big, let Him do this part in me.I hope it makes sense to you
I dont know why I should tell you this, but this post is connected with something inside me. Thank you <3
Hi Delvalina! You have it so right! Keeping humble is just like being little. I know you’ll follow wherever he leads you, and he’ll give you hopes and dreams that will fill his will for you
Great to see you today!
Ceil
Yes, being small, being humble, being vulnerable, truthful, authentic. All of this is so vital.
I found myself dealing with a passive-aggressive mom today who posts things on facebook that clearly indicate she feels that she is on a higher plain than all other moms (lol) and I wanted to say “You think you’re so big!” Haha, of course then I had to pray and ask God to help me let go and find something else to focus on. It took every ounce of strength to not respond to her, but I managed (with God’s help!) to hold back. Good gracious.
Thankfully, I am blessed with many wonderful mommy friends and we support each other in raising our children, pregnancies, labor, postpartum. We’re able to remain small with one another and tend to each others’ needs. I thank God for them!
Hi Anne! You have such a great perspective on being ‘small’ , seeing it from a teacher’s view. Good for you to be able to control your emotions, wow. That must have been so hard! Thank God indeed for gifting you with such wonderful friends who do not want to compete…just be supported and support you.
You are blessed! And so am I, because you are a great blog-friend!
Happy Weekend!
Ceil
Aw, thank you! Hope your weekend was wonderful.
beautiful. it’s in the small things. hehe. like a seed planted on the ground to grow. we must first be willing to be small to grow. hehe
Hi Sheena! Thank you for coming over today, and leaving a comment too!
I like the seed idea, that small thing that can become so big, and we don’t even know how. That’s exactly what it seems like being small. We remain small, and God does the wonder in us!
Great thought!
Ceil
Hello Ceil..Wanted to thank you for stopping by my blog during my busy week of entertaining. I soooo appreciated your visit. Susan
Hi Susan! Happy to be there, and my goodness, what are blog-friends for? Gotta support each other!
I hope you had a great time with your company, and you are not too tired out?
Have a wonderful weekend
Ceil
Jesus gave us a beautiful example of small. He knelt down and washed His disciples feet. May we do likewise.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Hi Debbie! Oh, you are so right. What a great example of being ‘small’. I love that, thank you!
Love that prayer too…may we do likewise. All in love.
Blessings to you!
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
This is a great post with a wonderful point!! It is in the weakness of self that He then becomes strong.
Blessings,
<><
Hi Child of God! Nice to see you here!
I am so glad that you liked the post. You are absolutely right, it is in weakness that we witness the strength of God.
Happy Weekend!
Ceil
The “Real grace is in the small.” Lovely quote. I could see a beautiful framed picture with this.
Small animals surviving or getting by something large and in their way. Thanks for the encouragement
Hi Mary! I like the idea of the frame thing. It would remind me to be happy being small. It should be a small frame too!
Thanks for visiting
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
Thanks for stopping by my blog today – you’re right – it is a joy to watch Sierra bloom. Thank you for your encouragement and for your visit. We do try to be the best parents we can be, don’t we. And we have the BEST example in our Father. Janet
PS I remember those playground words – and more like them. You’re right, it’s win-win when we don’t try to best each other, but rather think of ways to help and serve. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi Janet! So glad to visit you! And I loved your photo on the blog too.
The Father is the best we have to show us the way, and in his son Jesus. We need to be small to let the shine of grace come through!
Happy Sunday!
Ceil