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We climbed into the car after the first baseball game of the week. Just me and the youngest. He stretched back in the seat and rested, holding my hand as we hurried home for baths, homework and bedtime.

You see, the youngest has been struggling a bit lately. With responsibility, or the lack there of. School frustrations & spring fever maybe.

And, honestly, I have been struggling as well. What can you say to your baby (yes, he is eleven, but he is still the baby) when week after week things seem to go wrong?

A lost homework paper. A forgotten signed test. A misplaced watch. The dreaded end of the nine weeks assignments.  And, the list goes on.

I didn’t quite know, so instead I prayed. Over him. And, with him.

I thanked God for the wonderful creation he was and asked him to help him realize how perfectly He had thought out His plan for him.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. {Psalms 139:13, 14}

And, yes, one of my favorite prayers over the years has been to ask Him to place others who are strong where I am weak in their paths. To speak life and Truth where maybe I have no words. To be what they need for that very moment.

Now, please don’t get me wrong. I understand that this list of problems is so insignificant compared to those others are facing. I realize that all of these things don’t really matter in the grand scheme of his future or in life. But still, as a parent, these things really can begin to weigh on your heart and your mind for them.

Doesn’t that really help make us more aware of how much our Heavenly Father must care about little things in our lives? All too often I wait to reach out to Him in prayer until something escalates to gigantic proportions and problems, rather than addressing the problem or concern with the one thing that could make a difference – prayer. I wish it were always my first resort.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every (emphasis mine) situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {Philippians 4:6}

As we drove, the youngest started talking and sharing a bit of his heart. When we take the time to hear their hearts and especially see His hand at work in their lives, it really is a beautiful thing.

As he talked he shared with me that he and a young man from school were friends. And, how they had been since football season. I thought this was a little strange since this friend is a senior and in a very busy season of life. I could not imagine him having the time to be my son’s friend, but I kept listening.

He told me he had sat with him at the game tonight and shared with me how just that day in P.E. class he had helped him with his workouts. You see, this senior is working towards his own goals. He is an integral leader at our school and has high hopes of his next adventure.

He also explained how much this senior loved his own little brother about my son’s age (which you can only imagine how that excited my little one who lives the life of a younger brother every day). He talked of how the friend recognized that this particular younger brother was smarter than he was. He also talked about some favorite pastimes and talents of the younger brother. And, how they were both good at different things, but still different. And, that was okay.

All I could think as he talked were the countless times I have heard my younger one say that he wished he wasn’t the younger brother. Or, that he could be as smart as his older brother. Or, that he could do just about anything well as his brother. For my kiddo to hear this from a much older, very cool upper class man spoke volumes. Much more so than anything I have said in the past.

He continued talking and shared other dreams of this friend. And, how he had plans on his heart for other sports related dreams after college. Maybe even a career in coaching eventually. And, that my son would be older by then and how fun would it be if he could coach him one day?

All I could think as he talked was how relevant all of this was to my prayer.

For God providing that perfect someone who was strong where I was weak.

For God allowing that someone to speak encouragement and Truth into my sweet boy.

For God using that someone to plant a God-sized dream in a little boy’s heart that won’t be soon forgotten.

Honestly, I don’t think this senior has any idea what an impact he has had on this little boy’s heart, but, I know, that God used him.  And, I can’t wait to tell him! I am hopeful that the story I share with him will impact his heart as much as he has impacted my son’s heart. It is so important that we take the time to point out to our young people how and when God has used them. They need to know that their lives matter and that He uses every one who is willing and available.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. {I Timothy 4:2}

God hears our prayers. He is faithful in His timing and in all of His ways. He planned long before this frustrating season came in my son’s life for that young man to have the words to speak. I believe that.

I believe that God is so much bigger than any of us can ever really understand this side of heaven. 

I believe that He cares about every little thing in all of our lives.

And, yes, I believe that He can use each one of us to speak life and Truth into others.

Why not ask Him today? Ask Him to use you. Ask Him to give you the words to speak life into someone today? Ask Him to give you eyes to see every opportunity placed in your path as a divine appointment.

How different would our world be if we took the time to be completely His?

Yes, it is true that the little things matter. And, to God, I fully believe there are really no little things in the lives of those who love Him.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. {Psalms 40:5}

Holy Father,

Thank you for hearing our prayers and providing exactly what we need. Thank you for caring about the little things in our lives. Help us to come to you first, asking you to work in our lives in the little things and the big things. Give us eyes to see others as you do. And, yes, remind us of your faithfulness by allowing us to see you working so our faith might grow. Help us to be available today and every day to speak life and Truth into the lives of those you place in our paths. Change our hearts and purpose our time so that the world might see you.

In the name of your precious Son, our Savior, Jesus.

Amen.