“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,” {Zechariah 4:10}.
I’ve been mulling this verse over for the past couple of days, trying to wrap my mind around why it instantly grabbed my attention. I kept going back to meditate on it, slowly reading the words again and again. As I did, examples came to mind of small beginnings in my own life…times when I couldn’t possibly understand what the eventual outcome of the “work” would be. At those times, the small starting place in front of me seemed manageable even when the full scope could be overwhelming. Our adoption process, our non-profit work, our berry farm, our family travel to Africa…big, daunting processes and projects and life-changes…all of which began small.
One email and one phone call led us down a path toward our Sylvie that we never would have had the strength for had we known how long, tumultuous and uncertain it would be.
One small fundraiser started us on a path of non-profit work beginning by feeding a few dozen kiddos in a small orphanage in Congo and leading to feeding hundreds of kiddos and eventually to supporting a holistic, sustainable agricultural training center for orphaned teens in Zimbabwe. Truly, a path we never, ever, ever would have seen coming.
One land sale leading to Dave’s vision for a blueberry farm…which led to the work in Zimbabwe and a church plant and an event center…Honestly, WHO would have imagined any of it?? We aren’t farmers or church planters or event planners. We are just an ordinarily family who gathered some friends together to plant small blueberry plants in a field one summer day.
One purchase of airplane tickets for our family to travel to South Africa last year. It was such a small step but carried so much weight. It was the first step in a path the Lord had laid for healing for our little crew. A month of rest and immense joy. All of which we had never anticipated or expected. We just knew He was calling us to go. So, we went. And, the blessings were abundant.
Yesterday, as I was watching my boys confidently walk across our yard together after an adventure (proudly carrying a bow and arrow — thanks for that, Daddy), I saw it. I saw the way God led us to this place years ago, unbeknownst to us, He led us here for moments just like this exact one. When we hesitantly said yes to a move to this little patch of land outside of town, it was a small beginning the Lord rejoiced in.
He knew what was in store. He knew that this place, so unexpected, would allow our babies to have a childhood filled with adventures and whimsy and intention. A childhood we prayed they would have despite this fast-paced, screen-driven world of ours.
Years ago, we had just built our dream home in our town’s historic downtown district. It was exactly what I had dreamt of – the boys and I could walk downtown to shops and restaurants. Our friends were all close by. Then, this farmhouse came along. We couldn’t deny God’s call to move it and restore it. So, we did the small thing before us. We restored the house, never intending to move into it.
In fact, we worked on the restoration under the assumption we would rent the home out or use it for retreats or even as a weekend escape for our family. We couldn’t see past the horizon just before us – we had no way of knowing this home wasn’t simply handed over in a business exchange. It was a gift. A gift from a good Father who called us to a life of simplicity, to a new rhythm.
This house would eventually become a home representing the most unexpected life I could have ever imagined. Never would I have dreamt up a life in a small town, living in an historic, quirky farmhouse surrounded by nothing but trees and ponds and cows (and sheep). I would have never believed that a season of drought and frustration and pain would have paved the way to a season of abundance and rest and healing. This old house isn’t just a structure with four walls. It is the evidence, the physical, tangible proof, that when we open our hands and say yes to small beginnings, we are free to accept the most surprising and generous blessings.