First Baptist Church of Herndon

A Tiny Gift

Linda Soller | Apr 07, 2025

It had already been a busy morning. I was sitting in the drive-thru line waiting to get my food. It was a hot day.  I sat in silence with my arm resting on the open window of my car. That was when I felt it. A touch so gentle it didn’t even trigger a startle reaction. I glanced at my arm and there, laying softly on my skin was a tiny cherry blossom petal. It was beautiful. Not a big thing, but a beautiful part of a lovely whole. A tiny gift, it seemed to be telling me to stop and observe. Enjoy the spring. Be still and listen. I carefully picked it up and let it escape again in the sun and breeze. Message received, I whispered.

We learn to talk to God. We learn to listen to God. Sometimes we get it right and bring everything to Him. Sometimes we get so busy we forget to pause and talk with Him at all. We often struggle with the listening part. Why can’t God speak louder, or clearer, or better yet put His instruction in a text or email for us to see. We humans are so demanding. So, demanding in fact that we often miss what is right in front of us. Our voices drown out the whispers in our ears. Our sunglasses shade the glory of the natural world around us. We miss so much.  I’m confident that when needed God can yell at us with the best of them, but He seldom needs to yell. He could text or email if He wanted to but really why should He when He can whisper? There is something in a whisper that says these words are special for you. Can you hear Me? Listen carefully.

As I drove away, I didn’t dive into my French fries or slurp up my sweet tea as is my usual way. Instead, I watched the world around me. Life happening everywhere, enveloped in pink and white blossoms, shouting from budding trees, and moving through a warm gentle breeze. There were people going about their lives and I smiled to myself. God is watching all of us and whispering. Listen if you will.

Be strong in the Lord and be kind!

Linda