It’s the little things in life that touch me the most -a smile from a precocious 2-year old, the purple and orange of a newly rising sun, that gentle sigh my husband makes at the end of the day. Small things, reminding me that our lives are precious, a daily blessing.

This week my husband, Mac, and I were met with one of those small amazing unexpectedthings, a reminder of human kindness.

We’ve been shopping at our local grocery store since it opened, 13-years ago. The store is filled with a group of amazing people, all more than willing to engage in conversation, share a favorite recipe, or help a newbie navigate the aisles.

This week we gathered our shopping cart and entered the store just as we’ve done for 13-years. As we made our way to the vegetable aisle, we were met with a team of store personnel, the store manager, team leader, and cashiers. They encircled our cart and once all were gathered, the manager announced they had a surprise for us. He graced our shopping cart with a custom-made sign, “This cart is reserved for VIP Mac and Allison.” He went on to say, “We appreciate you being consistent customers and we love seeing you each week.”

To say we were shocked would be a complete understatement! I fought back the tears and Mac was speechless, not an easy thing for this extremely extroverted man. We took pictures, offered socially distant hugs, and then tried to finish our shopping.

The shopping part proved to be harder than anticipated. As we navigated the aisles, people read our little sign and smiled. They stopped to ask for an explanation and wanted to know how they could obtain a reserved cart. Was it a raffle? Had we won a store contest? What would we do with the sign?

We tried to navigate the stares and comments, questions, and repeated questions but feeling all the while a little self-conscious –undeserving of all the attention.

We finally turned the corner and headed toward the checkout stand when the manager and team leader approached. They lifted the sign from the cart and explained that it would be hangingnear the front door waiting for our return.

We thanked the team repeatedly as we walked out the doors. Turning to the manager, we let him know how much we appreciated the gesture. He said it was nothing, really “Just a small thing.” As we turned to exit the store, he reminded us to place the sign on our cart each time we shopped. He added, “We hope it reminds you just how specialyou are.

How “special” we are, such an undeserved gift.

Our world has become so complicated.

Racial division.

Political divisiveness.

A pandemic that rages on, interrupting the flow of everyday life. Carrying in its wake human, economic, and emotional devastation.

Yet, this grocery store team took the time to do the small thing. A sweet gesture that profoundly affected our lives.

I wonder what would happen if each of us would commit to doing one small thing this week for a loved one, co-worker, or stranger.

I wonder if that act of unexpected kindness would help the person remember they are special, they are loved, they are seen.

I wonder if it would say to them, you are valuable!

Sisters, I encourage you to take time to see the little things, the small events in your lives that tell you,

You are precious,

You are loved,

You BeLOVED are valuable.

And then, I challenge you to tell those you love, in some small way, how much they are valued, that they are special, they are loved.

¹Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:1-4 New International version (NIV)

Be blessed,