Small things.

One of my favorite Bible verses comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:11  Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.  I love the idea of the quiet life, the minding  of my own business and working with my hands.  A quiet life for me means regulation silence and reflection, reading, good music, good food with friends.  It means trying to have a schedule that is not hectic, sleeping enough, talking with my family enough.  I was reminded of my need for sleep this week when I went out of town for some teacher training.  I fell dead asleep before 9:30 every night and slept soundly until around 6:00.  That tells me I need more sleep.  I spent time catching up on reading for my book club and studying for my women's Bible study.  That kind of quiet time is so crucial.
Minding my own business means not being more aware of others faults than my own, believing in the best of others.  I love this quote "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a fierce battle"   Philo of Alexandria. People hide pain and hurt under smiles and lies.  Criticism and accusation show a lack of grace and a lack of understanding of the gospel...or basic human values.
Do the work of your hands - do what you are called to do.  Do what gives you great joy.  The work of your hands can be your job or other things.  I love to knit.  I love to make soup.  I love to make muffins.  I love this kind of work of my hands.
I've recently discovered more of the poetry of e.e. cummings and this one really stood out to me today.  It is just so lovely. 

I am a little church by e.e.cummings

 i am a little church(no great cathedral)

far from the splendor and squalor of hurrying cities

-i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest,

i am not sorry when sun and rain make april

my life is the life of the reaper and the sower;

my prayers are prayers of earth's own clumsily striving

(finding and losing and laughing and crying)children

whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness

around me surges a miracle of unceasing

birth and glory and death and resurrection:

over my sleeping self float flaming symbols

of hope,and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains

i am a little church(far from the frantic

world with its rapture and anguish)at peace with nature

-i do not worry if longer nights grow longest;

i am not sorry when silence becomes singing

winter by spring,i lift my diminutive spire to

merciful Him Whose only now is forever:

standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence

(welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness)

We received some unexpected, joyful news yesterday.  We can not share it yet publicly.  But keep us in your thoughts and prayers.