But what are they among so many? John 6: 9-13

Lisa Pratt left a comment on Facebook for me about my last post.  She said it reminded her of Dieter Uchtdorf's address to the women of the church (and the world) entitled "Forget Me Not."  I had not yet read that message, but since this was the second time this week that someone has recommended the talk to me, I decided it was time to look at it. 

The talk is structured around five things that we should not forget (like the five petals on the forget-me-not flower).  The first is "forget not to be patient with yourself."  President Uchtdorf encourages us to "celebrate our good efforts," to stop comparing ourselves to others, to be compassionate with ourselves, and to stop punishing ourselves for our weaknesses and short-comings.  He says,

be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement... If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences... Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey.

I always appreciate reminders to focus on small successes and tiny steps.  I am definitely one to focus on my (glaring) lack of perfection rather than the efforts I'm making to improve.  Another reminder here is to be thankful for our small successes and tiniest steps in the right direction.  Gratitude can help us notice and appreciate "life's sweetest experiences", and it can help us to "find wonder and delight." 

As I searched for the word 'small' in the scriptures tonight, this passage caught my eye: John 6:9-13.  The Savior wants to feed the giant crowd that has gathered to see him.  He asks one of his disciples how they can get enough bread for everyone.  Another disciple overhears the conversation and says:

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

  

The five barley loaves and two small fishes, compared to the hunger of five thousand men, was comical.  "What are they among so many?"  What are my tiny and pathetic little attempts compared to all that I need to change and improve to become the person I want to be?  The first thing Jesus does with this miniscule offering is to give thanks.  This is a place I could improve.  Instead of criticizing my efforts, I could thank God for my small successes, as President Uchtdorf encourages us to do.  After thanking God, Christ distributes the food--he shares it with all who will partake.  That is another thing I can do--share myself with others.  The super negative thinking about myself that I indulge in isolates me from others.  It is the opposite of giving thanks for what I can do and sharing that small offering with my brothers and sisters.  Through our Savior's love and power, those little loaves of bread and small fishes were more than enough to fill all who were there, with twelve baskets left over.   Through his love and power, I can be more than enough as well.