FUTURE IN LITTLE THINGS

At age twenty-one, Jacques Lafitte, a son of a very poor carpenter of Bayonne, set out to seek his fortune and future life's work. He had no references from influential people, no brilliant academic career behind him, but he was young and full of hope.

Jacques arrived in Parish and with his usual thoroughness began looking for a job. Days became weeks, and still he had no job or income. But he kept at it. Nobody in Paris noticed this determined young man.

One morning Jacques applied at the office of the famous Swiss banker, Monsieur Perregaux. The banker asked him a few questions about himself. Then he slowly shook his head and said there would be no job offered at the moment.

Sadly, and more discouraged than ever, Jacques left the bank and walked slowly across the courtyard. As he did so, he paused, stopped and picked something up. Then he continued into the busy street, wondering if perhaps it wasn't time to return home to Bayonne.

At about that moment, he was overtaken by a man who tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me sir," he said, "I'm an employee at the bank. Monsieur Perregaux wishes to see you again."

For the second time that morning Jacques faced the famous banker, "Pardon me," said Monsieur Perregaux, "but I happened to be watching you as you crossed the courtyard of the bank. You stooped and picked something up. Would you mind telling me what it was?"

"Only this," replied Jacques, wonderingly, as he took a bright new straight pin from the underside of the lapel of his coat. "Aaah," exclaimed the banker, "that changes everything. We always have room here for anyone who is careful about little things. You may start at once."

Thus Jacques Lafitte began his long and amazingly successful association with the bank, ultimately assuming complete control of what became, "Perregaux, Lafitte and Company," on of the largest banks of Europe.

How many futures have hinged on such insignificant things. Little things are important in life to God. God has one Son, who came only once, and thirty of His thirty three years were spent in what we call the "hidden life" doing ordinary things like us and all the little things. We all have a hidden life and to God. Who sees us in much of our daily activities, working around our house, doing the laundry, housework, shopping, driving, greeting people, praying for others, working at our jobs, commuting, bearing up under our illness, annoyances, limitations, colds and headaches. What is most convincing about one's spiritual life is how we go about the little things that no one sees or knows, where we get no recognition or thank you, doing the ordinary little things in an extraordinary way. What would Jesus do! He did the little things as well as the big things with the same care.

PRAYER

"Lord, your grace is sufficient for me. Fill my heart with love and gratitude for the mercy you have shown to me and give me freedom and joy to love and serve others as you have taught."