Little things can make a big difference!

The Great Chicago Fire occurred in 1871. Evidently, in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn, a cow twitched its leg and kicked over a lamp. That lamp broke and caught a wisp of hay on fire. Soon, the whole barn was up in flames, which then spread to and consumed the city. Hundreds of people died and millions of dollars of damage occurred, all from a twitching cow.

In James 3:5, we learn, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.!” The tongue is a very small part of our body when compared to something like our heart. But it can create problems as bad as a heart attack if we’re not careful with how we use it.

A careless word of gossip can spread like a wildfire. Soon those little words can cause big heartache; in some cases, it can even start a war. It’s been said that termites destroy more property than earthquakes. I believe more sorrow is caused by the careless words of a friend than by the open slanders of an enemy.

The deadliest animal in the world isn’t a tiger or bear — or a stampeding elephant or rhino. No, it’s a mosquito. This tiny beast kills about three million people a year through the spread of malaria. Some experts say it might have caused the death of one out of every two human beings who have ever lived. Yet we underestimate these creatures because of their size.

Little words of encouragement and hope can turn a life around. The phrase “You’re looking nice today” can restore self-confidence and hope instantly to someone’s spirit. Want to make someone feel better now? Say the little phrase, “You know, I really appreciate you and what you do.” Little words can make an incredible difference.