Articles
Little Sharks, Big Jelly Fish
Every time I go swimming in the ocean, someone inevitably warns me: watch out for
sharks! I always do, but I’ve never seen one, I’ve never heard the “bom-bom-bom-bom” music
that plays in the background when sharks come near! And it’s a good thing, because once you
hear the music, it’s probably too late. I’ve been warned to watch out for sharks, but no one has
ever said to me, “Watch out for the jelly fish.” The fact is, jelly fish are far more dangerous and
each year kill more people than sharks do. I take a walk each day in the park, but no one has ever
said to me, “Watch out for the bees.” Yet, bees kill more people each year than sharks and jelly
fish combined. We tend to spend our lives worrying about the sharks because sharks are big and
scary.
We tend to ignore real threats because, by themselves, they’re not all that intimidating.
Don’t let the little things in life fool you. You ignore them at your own peril. Every good
marriage...every good employee...every good business...succeeds because they’ve learned to pay
attention to the little things.
Jesus told a story about a servant who was given some money to manage, and because he
managed it well, he was rewarded by his master. The master said, “You have been faithful in
handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities” (Matthew
25:21).
Our greatest wins and losses in life result from our ability to master the seemingly minor
details of life. Reading a few verses of scripture and spending some time in prayer each day may
not seem significant to some, but it’s long-term effect is revolutionary. Making the effort to bite
your tongue may not seem that important, but in the long run it could save a relationship.
Don’t give the sharks more attention than they deserve —especially at the cost of ignoring
the jelly fish. It’s the little things that hold us back and the little things that move us forward.
~Harrisburg church of Christ, Harrisburg, IL
