The One Small Thing That Makes Life Large

I realized it this morning as I sat in the cushy leather chair, a pajama-clad boy plastered to my lap—how the secret to a BIG life is dependent on one small thing.

Joshua smelled of last night’s dirt and of fresh sleepy sweat.

His knees still bore grass stains from crawling through the yard at sunset; his hair still harbored an itinerant blade of grass in its clutches.

The hands on the clock ticked steady, and I knew I should prod my littlest boy toward the shower before the school bus plodded up the road.

But for just a moment, I wrapped my arms around my six-year-old and savored the feel of his toasty body curled against mine.

His warm breath condensed into moist drops on my neck as his lips brushed against my skin.

His tousled hair tickled my chin and he snuggled closer, curling his knees to his chest.

My eyes roamed back to the open Bible on my lap, the remnant of my quiet start to the morning. 

I glanced at the page where I’d been lingering when my early riser had padded down the hallway. And  I read the words of King David to the metronome of my son’s rhythmic breathing.

I have asked one thing from the Lord—
it’s all I seek—
to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
seeing the Lord’s beauty
and constantly adoring his temple (Psalm 27:4).

“What does it say?” Josh murmured as he laced his slender fingers around mine and pointed to the Psalm. 

I repeated aloud the words I’d just consumed in silence.

I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek—

“Who wrote that?” my son asked.

“King David.”

“The one who killed the giant?” Josh lifted his head from my shoulder and craned his neck to meet my gaze.

“That’s the one,” I answered.

“The David that I’m named after?” my Joshua David questioned, searching his memory for the familiar story. “The one who fought all those battles and lived in the palace and was a really really important king?”

I nodded wordlessly.

“Oh,” Josh mused. “He must’ve really loved God.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“‘Cause David could have asked for ANYTHING and he just asked for more of God.”

I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek

Josh squirmed, uncomfortable, and then admitted, “I think I might have asked for something else.“ He held my gaze, almost apologetic.

“Me, too,” I whispered. 

I thought about all my big dreams; the ones I entertain when I’m longing for life beyond the laundry room, for excitement beyond the carpool line.

And then I wondered if I’ve been dreaming in the wrong direction.

What if dreaming big isn’t really the secret to a large life? 

What if dreaming small is the key, after all?

Though David accomplished big things in his lifetime, what he sought most diligently was a small gap between God’s heart and his.

I have asked one thing from the Lord—

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 When all was said and done, the king’s desires weren’t for gain, but for loss. 

And when David chose to lose himself in Christ, he found the secret to living the life of his dreams…

A life large enough to be remembered for generations to come.

“Hold me closer,” Joshua murmured, his legs twining themselves around mine.

I squeezed tighter, diminishing the space between us.

My littlest boy sighed happy.

And before I woke the rest of my clan for another day of school, I closed my eyes and asked my Heavenly Father for one small thing.

Tell me, friends, what one thing are you asking of the Lord lately?

Grateful to be linking again with Rachel and with Emily at Imperfect Prose.