For Want of a Nail
It’s a centuries old story that’s been told in many versions, about a war in which a decisive battle was being fought. The general, concerned for his troops, sent an urgent message to his lieutenant on the frontlines by way of a courier on horseback. But the critical message never reached the frontlines, for the courier’s horse “threw a shoe.” Thus, the decisive battle was lost–and so was the war.
The English poet, George Herbert, later penned these famous lines:
For want of a nail, a shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe, a horse was lost.
For want of a horse, a rider was lost.
For want of a rider, a message was lost.
For want of a message, a battle was lost.
For want of a battle, a war was lost.
And all because of a nail.
But this was not the first nor would it be the last time that something as small as a nail would have such enormous consequences. There is a direct correlation, for good or for ill, between the little things we attend to and the big outcomes that can result.
Can something as simple as making our bed in the morning make the rest of the entire day go better? Can flossing our teeth daily yield positive outcomes for our heart health? Can my simple word of encouragement lift the spirit of a brokenhearted friend? Can going to church on Sunday make the rest of our entire week more manageable?
Jesus put it like this: “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful is also faithful in much;and whoever is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
What “very little thing’ might you faithfully attend to today? Tomorrow? Or maybe on Sunday?
Hope to see you at church!
Callie
