"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony."   -- William Henry Channing (1810-1884), American Unitarian clergyman, writer and philosopher

In our fast-paced society we often times lose the simple pleasures of the “little things”.  We chase after the latest gadget and acquire the newest device guaranteed to make life simpler and things just get more complicated.  With cell phones, pagers, computers, High Definition TV’s, and on and on, we lose a lot along the way.

Our patient had one simple request when asked by her social worker what might make a special moment; some special something we could do for her.  She wanted to go out for lunch to a buffet, and she’d love to be able to purchase some fabric so she could sew again.  Living on a small fixed income she was just able to make ends meet and provide the very basics of life.  Our staff member, working with our Life is Precious program, was able to grant her requests.

Contacted by our staff, the manager of a buffet style restaurant in the area was more than willing to embrace our efforts and become a part of making this happen.  Through contributions to the Life is Precious program we purchased a small gift certificate at a local fabric store.  On the chosen day our social worker accompanied the patient, first to lunch and then to shop.  She thoroughly enjoyed her lunch and found great joy in picking out fabric to make some tops.  For the first time in a long time she had the means to sew, something she had always enjoyed.  It might have been a “little thing” but it meant a lot to her.

The encouragement, I suppose, is for each of us to enjoy the “little things”, to stop and smell the roses, to remember the simpler times of life, to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Bruce Barton remarked, "Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things. I am tempted to think there are no little things."