“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

– Mother Teresa

Yesterday was my father-in-law’s 89th birthday.  This warranted a trip to Whitney Point, NY for the yearly celebration of his life.  Whitney Point is a small town with a population of about 1000, but size only matters to those who measure worth in quantity.  For those who see the quality of small things that add up over time, I want to tell you a story about a group of folks from the Whitney Point United Methodist Church.  For more than a year, they have been meeting every Friday to work on a project that changes the lives of girls they’ve never met — girls who live in poverty and desperation in places all around the world.  Building on an idea from Hope 4 Kids International, this group has been sewing sleeveless dresses made from pillowcases, sheets, and donated fabric.  The finished dresses then are sent to the parent organization and distributed to girls who are clothed in the caring of strangers who live a world away. To date, this small group from a small church in a small town have completed 1,000 dresses — and they have no intention of stopping any time soon.

I learned about this effort from my mother-in-law who is a charter member of the volunteer group who call themselves the Sew and Sews.  They are a perfect example of the way that being faithful in small things can produce big results.  Some members launder the donated fabric.  Some match fabrics so that the dresses can be trimmed in colors that match.  Some add lace to the design.  Some cut the pattern and mark the size of the garment.  Some make binding for the armholes and ties for the shoulders.  Some add elastic.  In the end, all the pieces are assembled to create a finished dress that any little girl would be proud to wear.

Often we stop ourselves from doing small things as we wait for the chance to do something we see as huge and great.  We make excuses for not taking small steps.  We are too busy.  We are too burdened to take on big tasks.  We are too old.  When you look at all that 10 to 12 people have accomplished on one morning a week by doing their small jobs, it is almost embarrassing to think of making excuses.  And if you think you’re too old to get involved, consider that my mother-in-law at 86 is not the oldest volunteer in the group.  Her ninety-six-year-old neighbor adds a small drawstring bag to each dress before they are sent for delivery.

All of this is happening because a handful of people do small things with great love.  Isn’t there something you might do in a small, quiet way that also could change the world — if only for one person at a time?

Read their story here.