This world is big, busy and time moves fast. Yet, it’s always the little things that make you smile and laugh.
A young man pulls into a gas station running on his last drop of fuel. He needs to get just 12 miles down the road but he has no credit, savings or cash. It’s hot and his air conditioning doesn’t work. He’s quickly sweating through his only pair of dress pants and a nice shirt. There is a young lady at the next pump over with a friendly face, messy hair and nice clothes. He feels bad for asking, but he asks her if she has any change. She hears his desperate, hopeful expression and stares at his beat up, rusty Chevy Trailblazer. Her common sense is telling her to turn away and lock the doors. She’s been told guys like these act desperate for money so they can buy more drugs or booze. She’s about ready to turn away but then something tells her to give him the benefit of the doubt. Instead of making a quick exit, she reaches for her wallet and gives him 10 bucks and says “this will get you where you’re headed, God Bless and good luck.” Within a minute he filled up his tank and was storming down the interstate. He made it in time for the interview that gave him a job where he could finally pay the rent and put food on his kid’s plate. It’s the little things.
In the high-rise across the street, the CEO grips his coffee and stares out his office window. He has 100 unread emails, a meeting in 10 minutes and the current quarter about ready to close. He’s stressed to the max and he swears if his phone goes off one more time he’ll throw it against the wall. It vibrates again; he grabs it and a winds up for the throw but all of the sudden, something on the screen catches his eye. It’s a picture from his son. He opens the message and enlarges the picture of his son’s cleats with his name written on the tongue. In the text below it said “dad, when I put on my cleats to head out on the field I want to think of you because you’re the best coach I’ve ever had." He smiles wide and thinks to himself there are some things that money can never buy. It’s the little things.
Later that day, the CEO is watching his son at the Friday night Football game. There’s a scuffle on the field and his son punches a kid on the other team. After the game, he waits on the couch for his son to get home. When he walks through the door he says, “Boy you sit your butt down.” He asks him why he did what he had done. The son explained, “I’m sorry dad, but he was making fun of our corner for being poor and it made so mad that I couldn’t hold it in anymore.” His dad gave him a long hard glare but decided to let it go. He remembered how much it hurt when he had been told that once before. It’s the little things.
Long into the night, the football coach is still watching the game film. The next game is a tough one and he can feel the whole town breathing down his neck waiting for another conference title. He’s used to the pressure and is working hard to formulate the perfect game plan. He refuses to lose to the rival next week. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a letter on his desk. It was written by a former player who was one of the best. He opens it up, and starts reading.
Dear Coach, I want to thank you for teaching me how to be a man. If it weren't for you, I would have probably gotten into drugs and alcohol because I grew up around that and that's all I ever knew. I just graduated college, I have a new job and I love it too. P.S. I'm helping coach a high school team in an area just outside of New Orleans. Maybe someday I can help some kid like you helped me.
He put down the letter and leaned back in his chair. That little note reminded him what his job is really all about. It's the little things.
Just outside of the same school the next day, there was a dog wandering down the busy highway. Hundreds of people saw him but never stopped. They were all worried that they would be late for school or work. An old man on his way home from the doctor, headed to the pharmacy decided to pull over. He parks his old Ford truck with his POW sticker and Purple Heart plate on the shoulder. As soon as he opened the passenger door, the dog jumped right up into the seat. The old man called the number on the dog's name tag. A woman answered the phone and gave him their home address. As soon as the truck rolled onto the driveway, a little boy bolts out the front door. He slid down to his knees, wrapped his arms around his dog and said: "I’m so glad you're home, I thought I lost my best friend." The boy’s mom shook hands with the man and said thank you. She noticed the army veteran hat on his head as the old man said: "it's the least I can do." Matter of fact, that dog's life wasn't the first life he had saved. As he turned and made his way back to his truck, the mom watched him go and said "once a hero, always a hero." Those few words made the old man's day so he tipped his hat as he drove away.
It's the little things.
