The Little Things Are the Big Things

This past week, I flew to California to speak at a conference. I flew with Southwest Airlines. While on the airplane, I had a coffee. When they brought the coffee, I noticed something really cool. Rather than doing what every other company does and just provide either a plain wooden or plastic straight stir stick, they had placed their logo on the top of the stir stick. Here's a picture of it.

It reminded me that the little things are the BIG things. It's in the little details that greatness arises. Behind every big success there are hundreds, if not thousands, of small details that together make up the big things. Walt Disney said this. "People can feel perfection." Quality is the imperceptible things that guests might not even know they see. But "devotion to detail lets guests know that they're worth the effort." And Jesus said this in Luke 16. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Often we pour all of our time, energy and effort into the "big things" while neglecting the little things. The little things like...clean restrooms...keeping areas free of clutter...spell checking messages you send out...walking guests to their room...a small gift with your logo on it for guests...being prepared to teach...making sure all the babies have their diapers changed...keeping the storage areas organized and clean...making sure the right amount of copies have been made...making sure signs are hung straight...making sure the rooms have been vacuumed...making sure the toys have been sterilized and wiped down...walls touched up with paint where chips have been knocked off.

Here's my challenge to you.

• Once a month get several people together (because 1 person can't see everything) and walk your children's ministry areas. Make notes of things you see that need to be fixed, changed or done away with.

• Take the notes you made and turn it into a to-do-list. Get the repairs, clean-ups, etc. done as quickly as possible.

• Make sure at least 2 people look at any documents, emails or letters you are sending to your team. Correct any typos, errors, etc. before it is sent out.

• Take the time to makes sure your storage and back stage areas are clean and free of clutter.

Another great asset of taking care of the little things is that it helps you build rapport, respect and trust with those you lead. I was recently riding with a children's pastor and his car was...there's no other way to say it...it was filthy. Old food bags and just general trash all over the floorboards. And on top of that...when we got to his office at the church, it was filthy as well. Dust an inch thick on the shelves... trash and old letters laying all over the desk...floor wasn't vacuumed...old food containers...it was nasty. And the church building was a mess as well. Floors not vacuumed properly. Books scattered around. Trash cans not emptied...bathroom wasn't clean. In the long run, if he doesn't start taking care of the small things like keeping his office neat and clean, it will be hard to earn respect from those He leads. If you want big things to happen in your ministry...then make sure you are taking care of the little things in your ministry.