Little Things Mean A Lot

Sometimes grand gestures are nice. Like when your daughter throws you a surprise 30th anniversary party. Or when your son pops in to mow the yard.

But the little gestures are what makes life sweet on a daily basis. Someone who does something unexpected for you. A kind word. Or....getting a card in the mail for no reason. (Mail...remember that? The paper stuff with stamps??)

And small things are often packed with a big punch.

My dad took up woodworking after he retired many years ago. As in, he took to it like a duck to water. He made a rocking horse and easel for Nicole when she was little. A wagon  nd a toy chest for Joseph. (I think we must have put hundreds of miles on that thing!) And, for no reason other than to do it, he made a canoe. Why not? And it was a real work of art.

After going to the Campbell Folk Life School in Brasstown, N.C. with my son, Joe, a few times, my dad took a carving class and became hooked. When it is too hot or too cold to go out in his shop, he can sit in his climate-controlled house and just whittle away. (Idle hands are the devil's playground!)

One of the things he makes are little crosses. He keeps them in his pocket and passes them out to folks he comes across while he's out and about.

My sister, Sarah, goes on a mission trip each summer to Andros in the Bahamas. This year was the 25th anniversary (I think) and each person was to bring a special commemorative item to pass out. Sarah asked my dad if he could carve some crosses. A bunch of crosses. And he did.

So Sarah took the crosses to Andros, and gave them out. And they were a big hit!

Beautiful. I'm sure those children will treasure their crosses, and hopefully, the meaning of it, for a long time to come. Such a little thing that means so much.

One of the little things we do each year that means alot to others is to attend the Mississippi State Hospital’s (MSH) Annual Serendipity Art Show and Silent Auction TODAY (Thurs., 9/2), from 11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on the hospital’s campus in Whitfield.

Serendipity features artwork from MSH’s Art Services programs and Community Services Art Workshops, led by our sweet friend, Tony DiFatta. The show includes handmade paper, pencil drawings, ceramics, pastels, watercolor, acrylic and tempera paintings, crayon batiks and mixed media.
 
All artists are patients, residents or consumers of the hospital and incorporate age groups from children to adult seniors. The show features work from artists in Psychiatric Services, Community Services, Jaquith Nursing Home and Oak Circle Center Child/Adolescent Unit. The artwork will be sold by silent auction. Bidding will end at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will be applied to the individual artists’ accounts.

While it means alot to the patients, it means alot to us too. It's a way to get some beautiful pieces of (mostly) framed artwork at a very reasonable price. And it's fun too!

Nicole bought this piece last year. Here she is, with Tony and the artist. It's a painting of downtown Jackson during the Mal's St. Paddy's Day Parade, which is one of her favorite events!

As you go about your day, remember to put forth a little effort to do a little something that will mean so much to someone else. When you do, it will make your day, too!

Blessings to all who read this!
Susan