First Baptist Church of Herndon

Feeling Small

Linda Soller | Nov 14, 2022

There are multiple ways to feel small. In my case the physical challenges of being a small person are things I have learned to live with. Just last weekend I visited Busch Gardens with family. Three of us began with the Clydesdale and Collie tour. The park, previously owned by the Anheuser-Busch company, is broken into parts of Europe. The tour was in Scotland because the Clydesdale horse was originally breed as a draft-horse in Lanarkshire Scotland, near The River Clyde. The Border Collies are used to heard sheep in Scotland, and yes, we even saw sheep. Thus, the Clydesdale and Collie tour. I was very excited because I love horses. It wasn’t clear to me that I would have the opportunity to stand beside, touch and be photographed with one of these magnificent creatures. I felt very small, but not in a bad way. Truth be told I think he liked me because he smiled in my picture.

At this time of year, it’s easy to feel small in a more psychological way. The holidays get very busy and for some it can be overwhelming. You enter a popular store and feel small in the crowd. Your second cousin twice removed shows up to Thanksgiving with her masterpiece pumpkin pie and you feel small for only bringing twinkies. Uncle Herb is the favorite secret Santa because he gives expensive gifts. You feel small for giving the glow in the dark key chain. It happens. Feeling small is something we all experience from time to time. We feel it because we spend so much time comparing ourselves to others. We are certain they are doing the same. Spoiler alert!  Everyone does not do this. You don’t have to feel small just because you made different choices. So, you can leave the busy store and shop in a small business. Not everyone likes pumpkin pie, and the kids think you are a hero for bringing twinkies! Uncle Herb is a generous soul so let him have his moment. Grandma will be happy with her key chain when it’s dark and she needs to unlock her door. 

This holiday season do yourself a favor and fight the urge to feel small. Take it from me, standing by a Clydesdale puts feeling small into perspective.

Be the love in the world  :o) 

Shout out to Rena my special Scottish friend!