Little Things
It is the little things in life that makes for happiness or sorrow, greatness or narrow mindedness. Great men and women become so by remember to do all the little things that indicates thoughtfulness and consideration, not only to live outside of themselves and in so doing live happy lives. They gain a wisdom that enables them to see and to do things from the other person's standpoint. Here's a poem I don't know who wrote, of a mother's thinking and advice:
My mother says she does not care
About the color of my hair,
Or if my eyes are blue or brown,
It really doesn't matter.
My mother says she doesn't care,
If I am dark, or if I'm fair,
Or if I'm thin or if I'm fat,
She doesn't fret over things like that
It really doesn't matter.
But if I cheat and tell a lie,
Or do mean things to make folks cry,
Or if I'm rude or impolite,
Or do not try to do what's right
Then that does really matter.
It isn't looks that makes one great,
It's character that seals your fate,
It's what's in your head you see,
That makes or mars your destiny--
And that does really matter!!
I think that we would all do well to commit that little poem to memory. I hear some missionaries express the excuse, "I want to do better but I'm just too weak!" They have never learned to apply the principle of faith in their lives. In physics there is a theory of aerodynamics that would indicate it IMPOSSIBLE for the bumble bee to fly. These men of science tell us that because of his size, weight and shape and size of his wings, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO FLY. But the interesting thing is - no one ever told the bumble bee!! So he goes flying merrily along defying the laws of aerodynamics.
The story is told of an illiterate man who set up a little stand by the roadside to sell hot tamales. And he made the best tamales he knew how. And with the passing of the years his business grew because he served the public with the desire to please. He developed a great faith in the fact that people were buying from him because he gave them the very best. Then one day his son left and went off to college. When he returned he began telling his father that he should buy less supplies, cut down on his help, to let the painting of his road signs and his restuarante wait for the coming year -- FOR THERE IS A DEPRESSION IN THE LAND. His father didn't know what a depression was, but thinking that his son was educated, gave ear to his negative counsel. He ordered less - thus many customers turned away because orders couldn't be filled, he cut down on help - thus overworking the others which caused a lack of attention to customers. He let his place go unpainted, he stopped his advertising - and to be sure his business dropped off. And he was found shaking his head and sadly muttering, "Yep, my son is right. There is a depression."
Thousands of businesses go broke annually. Why? According to the Wall Street Journal, they say it is 'lack of know how and failure to treat customers right'. It's just the little things along the way of life that go for building a beautiful character or a mean one.
Develop faith in yourself to do the right thing. Develop faith in God that he will guide you. No missionary need be weak in doing the thing that is right, if he will just heed the counsel of our proven leaders. That counsel condenced in capsul form is found in the front of your daily record book. Make it a daily habit to read it. Make it a daily habit to heed it. And it will give you the habit to do daily the little things that bring happiness and success.
Sincerely your brother,
Asael T. Sorensen
