It's the little things

I was tracking him on the best iPhone app ever, Find my iPhone. He was 65 miles from home when I got the call.

"My car is overheating. And it's not shifting right. I am going to have to pull over and let it cool down. You might have to come and get me."

I had just put the last child to bed for the night, and was busily preparing things for his arrival home, after having him gone for six days. My husband, dressed in full uniform, was once again having car problems on his way back from an assignment with his AF unit. The last time he was gone, he got a flat tire an hour from home and had to stop and change it, again in full uniform. (Do you know how hot it is?) 

Why is it always in that last stretch that things start to go wrong?

We talked about what it could be. Thankfully google shed some light on the subject. I told him to check his coolant and transmission fluid levels. A quick check and $5.65 later, his car had transmission fluid once again. This time a kind "old biker dude" stopped to offer assistance and to give my husband this:

In times past when he's had car troubles coming home from his weekend assignment (again its always during that last hour!), he has never had anyone stop  to help. This time he had multiple people offer their assistance and we were very touched by such kind gestures.

He pulled back on the freeway and I "watched" him every five minutes to make sure he was still on track for home.

And then I had an epiphany.

This is what life is like. We have to remember to do the simple things to make sure we don't break down. Our Heavenly Father is always aware, even "tracking us" if you will, to ensure we are where we need to be. But sometimes we go off course. And then we forget to do those simple things that ensure our safety. There are those moments it seems that there is no one around to offer help, which is when we faithfully have to rely on Him; and other times He sends help in abundance to remind us that He really is there, watching over us. 

As parents it's the simple things we do with our children that will secure them to us when they go out the door. Telling them we love them multiple times during the day, not just in word, but in action too. Putting down our cell phones when they have something to show us, even if they showed it to us 10 minutes before. Letting them stop to count all the railings because they want to show how high they can go. Playing a game with them, even if it goes 5 minutes past bedtime. 

As couples it's the little things like praying together night and morning. Is there any greater power than that sacred privilege? It's turning off the TV and tuning into each other for ten minutes without interruption (and commercial breaks don't count.) It's compliments and cordiality and speaking softly and sweet messages of affection. 

It's a smile to a stranger.

A text to someone whose name comes into our mind.

A plate of cookies on the doorstep after a long and lonely day.

A prayer before hitting the pillow.

A thank you card to someone who showed us kindness.

A handshake extended to an unfamiliar face.

The list could get rather lengthy if I continued to write all the simple things we could do in every aspect of our lives. I realize that spending $5.65 to fill the oil back in the engine is a whole lot better than having to replace the car all together. Little things DO make a difference, and then when that is all said and done, and it's still not perfect, The Lord Himself makes up the difference all together.