I was out following my boy around the other day as he was playing, when I saw this beautiful tree. It is rather small compared to the huge trees surrounding it. It is small because of the type of tree it is, but also because it seems younger. It’s sphere of influence is small. But in the end I noticed it because of its beauty, not size.
In my mind, if the tree could talk it would be saying: “I don’t care that I’m small, I’m still going to make my leaves beautiful! My little bit of beauty still matters.”
Parker playing peek-a-boo around the small, yet beautiful tree.
It started me pondering on my sphere of influence. It isn’t very big right now. Most days I stay at home all day with my boy; my husband has to commute so he needs the car. I’m not working or involved with a major organization (except with the village who is helping raise my child). So in other words, my sphere of influence is rather small; my reach out into the world is limited.
Sometimes I get discouraged by the smallness. When I’m feeling down, I make the mistake of equating the smallness to ugliness or being less desirable. Why work on my small life, when it is so…small?
But, my sphere of influence doesn’t have to be big in order to beautify it; take pride in it. Whatever sphere we have influence on–we can beautify it, give it our all. Whether it be my 550 square foot apartment built in the 60’s–I can make it my own! Whether it be my small, new blog–I can keep writing. Whether it be my family of three–we can make meaningful traditions. They are all still worth the time and effort to beautify.
Things don’t need to be big for them to be beautiful. We can leave our mark of beauty on even the smallest things.
“Blessed is the influence of one true, loving soul on another.”-George Eliot
How do you cherish even the small things in your life? What small endeavors are you working on that are nevertheless beautiful and meaningful to you?
A Pendulum World 
I was just talking to my sister a out this on the phone today! How our influence is mainly in our homes right now and how that can sometimes feel a bit discouraging. But that small influence is still important. Probably more important than any other influence we will ever have! I always love your reminders, Marla! I’d say your “small, new blog” is very beautiful, and probably more far-reaching than you realize. 🙂 thanks for this!
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I totally agree with what you said, Chelsi. It reminds me of the quote “The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.” So often we feel like the diapers we change, the baths we give, the food we prepare, is so menial–yet really, we are caring for and shaping lives. What greater work could we be doing? Nothing. And thank you for your encouragement. I am feeling more and more comfortable with my blog. And actually am just so enjoying these friendships. They really are such a light in my life! 🙂 Thank you for being you and for sharing your thoughts!
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Small but mighty, Marla. Your “small new blog” has HUGE perspectives and HUGE inspiration! You are making a difference in more ways than you’ll probably ever know.
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You are so complimentary, Torrie, and I so appreciate your kindness! I feel like you are one of my biggest fans! haha. But really, I always appreciate the added perspectives that you bring to me and the conversation on my blog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so often! 🙂
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Drat! I was going for your BIGGEST fan. But I’ll take second place if I have to….. 🙂
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You crack me up, Torrie!!! 🙂
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Marla, I think you speak for every SAHM here when you speak of feelings of inadequacy and smallness. What a beautiful tree, and what a beautiful momma you are. You have no idea how much you have influenced me, spoke to my life, through your words here.
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Sasha, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I just wrote my heart and didn’t realize until you mentioned it, that probably so many others can relate. It is so wonderful (yet sad) to know we are not alone in feeling inadequate and small as mothers. Yet hopefully as we write and share our hearts, we will each begin to realize what a great work we are doing and how influential we really are.
I feel so honored to have come to know you, Sasha, and am so glad that I could have in some way touched your heart! Here’s to the beauty of blogging! 🙂
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Marla, I can relate so much to your words — especially as a SAHM. Quantity isn’t as important as is the heart behind all that we do. Thank you for your perspective and beautiful insight! I’ve been feeling rather small lately and discouraged at times. But this message uplifts me!
Your posts impact me. Even in just the short time I’ve been reading your blog, I feel touched by the words you share here and the time you take to share the most genuine words on my posts. You are making impact! I’m so glad our paths crossed! 🙂
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Hannah, thank you so much for your genuine words. You have a gift for helping people feel loved and listened to. 🙂 I’m so glad you could relate to the post. I feel it burning in my heart many times, as I contemplate if I could have done more had I gone a different route in life. But, in the end, I always come back to motherhood; motherhood is for me. I’m sure you have often come to the same conclusion. And however small we may seem now, our influence will be felt.
I too am so glad we have connected. You write from your heart and seem to be so close to God. Thank you for influencing my life for the better! I look forward to getting to know you better as we continue on our blogging journeys. 🙂
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I just love this encouragement! You are right … so many of us try to find beauty outside of our spheres, when really, it is right in front of us! My world also feels small. But I am thankful for this little sphere I have been blessed with. 🙂
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You are so right! I often feel like I am looking out the windows of my home, wondering what I could do outside of my sphere. But really, it is all happening inside my family, home, and heart. 🙂 And just like you, I am grateful for my sphere, and becoming more so, as I keep discovering how fundamental and beautiful it is. I’m so glad I’m coming to know your sphere little by little–it is beautiful, as well! 🙂
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I like the message of this post. Smallness does not determine the level of greatness. Things can look so small, and yet be so powerful! I too have thought about my smallness, my weakness. But what does God see? That’s what I have to keep in mind, whether it looks small to me or not. Even small things matter to Him, because He sees them, and establishes their worth. Thanks for the reminder;)
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I love how you think about things, Rebekah! I think you are so right, we should always look to God and try to see things as He does. It is so amazing to me that in the vastness of the universe, even as a single person, am of so much worth to God. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.” (Dieter Uchtdorf). We really are worth so much and so are the seemingly small things in our lives 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Rebekah!
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Beautiful as always– I mentioned you on my blog today–list of my favorite blogs. No need to type up an award post. I never have time for that either–you can just enjoy being mentioned. 🙂
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April, you are so kind! I feel so honored and flattered at the same time. I’m so glad you enjoy reading my blog and that you find encouragement here. Yours is one of the first I started following 🙂 I’m so glad I have met you in this world of blogging!
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It is always hard to appreciate the small things in life and as a stay at home mom, I get lonely as well. The one thing I always focus on is my son’s health. The fact that I have a healthy child, always puts things into perspective for me 🙂
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You are so right. Just reading your comment helped me feel grateful inside. I have a healthy son too, and really, that is a huge blessing that I very often take for granted. Thank you for commenting so thoughtfully. 🙂
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As always, beautiful. Reminds me of that quote, “And though she be but little, she us fierce.” size does not equate to significance. You are meaningful, influential, inspiring and beautiful!
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