It’s Alright To Be A Little Bitty
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Medical research has shown that on average women lose 3 inches in height between age 30 and age 80 and men lose 2 inches during that same period. In other words, as we mature, we physically shrink. Country singer Alan Jackson sang these words in his song Little Bitty, “Well, it’s alright to be little bitty.” It’s a good thing that is alright because spiritually speaking, we are called to shrink as we mature in our faith. Today, I offer you an itty-bitty message that packs a big and powerful message. Please read more…
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once wrote about something called the “The theology of littleness.” His message said, “After all, the tenor of our faith is that God’s distinctive greatness is revealed precisely in powerlessness. That in the long run, the strength of history is precisely in those who love, which is to say, in a strength that, properly speaking, cannot be measured according to categories of power. So in order to show who he is, God consciously revealed himself in the powerlessness of Nazareth and Golgotha. Thus, it is not the one who can destroy the most who is the most powerful…but, on the contrary, the least power of love is already greater than the greatest power of destruction.”
Faith calls all of mankind into a relationship beyond ourselves. We are called into a communal relationship with a God who we cannot see. To reveal Himself to us, God sent His Son. Philippians 2:1-11 tells us that Jesus did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Jesus became a man like us. He took on the form of a slave. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death on a cross. Stated differently, the largeness of God’s love was revealed when Jesus became little bitty like us.
Philippians 2:1-11 goes on further to challenge us to be like Jesus. We are told to do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory. We are told to humbly regard others as more important than ourselves. We are challenged to not lookout for our own interests, but rather for the interest of others.
Pastor Rick Warren starts off his book, The Purpose Driven Life, by stating, “It’s not about you.” He goes on to tell us that we were born by God’s purpose and for God’s purpose. To live out God’s purpose for our life, we must diminish.
John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “He must increase; I must decrease.” My friends, the same is true for us. We must make ourselves small so that Jesus can live within us. We must allow Jesus to act through us as we share His love with others.
Matthew 18:3-4 states “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
We are in the adulthood of our life. From a physical perspective, we shrink because the discs between the vertebrae in our spine dehydrate and compress as we grow older. The loss of bone density also makes us smaller. Finally, muscle loss in our torso contributes to our stooped posture as we age.
Unlike our physical body which shrinks naturally with age, it requires effort, desire, commitment, prayer, and humility to become small and childlike in our faith. To grow in faith, we must intentionally make our lives less about us and more about others. How do we do this? We first must make our life less about us and more about God. We must decrease so He can increase!
I will close where I started. It’s alright to be little bitty. Ask yourself this question, “Have I become small enough or do I still have some shrinking to do?”
Heavenly Father make me smaller! Give me the grace I need to be more Christlike in my love and concern for others. Shrink my pride and reduce my ego. Remind me always, that no one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Amen!
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I see a connection here with courageous generosity. Why are we afraid to give courageously? I posit that for too many, it is the fear that giving may cause us to have to decrease too much. As you say above, to grow in faith we must intentionally make our lives less about us and more about others. Giving generously, courageously of our Time, Talent, and especially of our Treasure is our intentional response of 1) humble thanksgiving to God for all the blessings he gives to us, and 2) caring about the needs of others.
This coming Sunday’s second reading is in Philippians 4. In verse 19, Paul tells us that God will fully supply whatever we need. Giving courageously is our intentional action to become small, and the concrete manifestation of our trust and faith that God will provide whatever we need.
At 5’4” I can truly appreciate your topic for this weeks letter! Kathy andI have adjusted well to our change in life style. We are both doing well but miss doing a number of things with friends. Hope Mary and you are also doing well. Keep up that great work. Regards! Jim Meersman
Love your ending prayer. Our openness to Grace allows us to gain humility, and humility opens more doors to Grace.
God Bless Brian.
Brian,
A wonderful message to remind us that our life is not solely about us. We are part of something larger. I’ve heard it said that part of our modern malaize is simply our disconnect from mountains, oceans and stars. We live an artificially constructed “safe and predictable” life. And for most of us, this results in rarely experiencing the grandeur of mountains, nor the vastness of oceans nor the mysteries of the stars. Consequently, our place in the order of creation becomes inverted.
Two songs come to mind when I read posting today. The first is titled “I Shall Not Want” by Audrey Assad. The second song is “Litany of Humility” by Daniele Rose. If you can, please post the hyperlink to these songs. They provide a wonderful reminder of what a life worth living is about. Thanks again.
Brian,
How “coincidental” that I should read this today. It was just this past Friday during adoration that I was reading some prayers and I found the “Litany of Humility” which goes into great detail about how we should want to become smaller so He can become larger in our lives and in the world. It struck me as powerful. I encourage people to look for it.
I’m also reminded of The Little Way of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. She sought to serve God by always doing even the littlest things with great love.
Peace!
Bob