A Little Way

Posted January 22, 2025 by Sarah Green

Categories: Featured, Sarah, Sister Post

Do you have lofty aspirations for the New Year? Are you going to lose weight? Get fit? Grow in umpteen ways in all areas of your life? 

I once read a book that taught me tiny steps toward growth (Sink Reflections: Overwhelmed? Disorganized? Living in Chaos? Discover the Secrets That Have Changed the Lives of More Than Half a Million Families…). As I spent time with this concept, I realized this idea is not new. Many saints lived their lives taking tiny spiritual steps. How about a New Year of learning and growing with little steps? 

Many saints approached life with a spirituality that was not grandiose. Some longed to do great things for God but realized they were being called to a simpler spirituality and lifestyle. Small can be a heroic way to go about life. Some of my favorite saints are Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Therese of Lisieux. When I observed their lives, they most certainly did grandiose things for God, yet most of their actions were a million tiny steps that culminated in sainthood. 

Saint Teresa’s famous quote states, “Do small things with great love.” Saint Therese once taught, “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” Our lofty ambitions matter and are essential. Whether eating healthier and exercising, reading more, being more patient, or pursuing new things, these are all virtuous endeavors. God says we are “temples of the Holy Spirit.” How can we not yearn to grow? Yet, I wonder if our “big” New Year’s goals fail because of their “bigness”? 

Saint Mother Teresa once stated, “Do something beautiful for God. Do it with your life. Do it every day. Do it in your own way. But do it.” She said to do something beautiful, not big, and do it for God. Our small steps may one day turn into something big. This has happened repeatedly in my life. Lacing up my tennis shoes eventually became marathons and finish lines. Trunk Shows turned into a beautiful small business. Paying off our smallest debt snowballed into a debt-free life. One class I signed up for resulted in a Theology Degree. Rather than start big and quit two weeks later this year, maybe a tiny step toward growth would be more effective.  

Saint Teresa knew the power of small. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” I may not be able to conquer the world, but I can help the person nearest me. I believe we can use this theory with all the aspirations we are called to. We can drink one glass of water daily, exercise for five minutes, or read one scripture. Our goals shouldn’t be all or nothing, but often, that’s what happens when they’re too big. Pick one tiny challenge and, with prayer, remain faithful to it in 2025. 

I once dreamed of running a marathon but felt defeated when I thought about it. How could I run for 26.2 miles? And who would want to do that anyway? God puts aspirations in our hearts; sometimes, we don’t know why. Once I read Sink Reflections, I decided to run 15 minutes daily. On hard days, it was less. The goal was small, yet it did eventually lead to the marathon. It also led to hours of silence, prayer, and time with God, an unexpected joy that came with starting small and remaining faithful. 

Friends, your aspirations for the New Year are essential. I believe God placed them in your heart. The saints have much to teach us about growth through small steps. God can use faithful tiny steps. I’m considering a tiny step resolution for 2025. What are your aspirations?