JOY. 1985.

Remember that JOY ornament of mine? The ornament that was dated 1985? I remember where and when I received that ornament. It was from my piano teacher, Mrs. Peterson (I’m surprised I even remember her name). Every year she’d give us an ornament that she made. And, I still have it.

Funny what things we save and pass down and remember. I’ve thought about getting rid of some of those old ornaments, and then when the time comes I always end up looking at them and remembering. Wondering, I guess. I remember Mrs. Peterson, my piano teacher, holding a book over my hands so I couldn’t cheat and look at the keys. I can hear her counting – one and two and three and – as I worked to keep my tempo steady.

But now, when I look at the ornament on my tree I wonder — did she ever think that 26 years later the ornament would still be a part of that little girl’s Christmas? Or that she’d still play the piano and love it so much? Or that she’d spend such a great deal of her life writing about joy? Did she think that the ornament that her hands worked to make would be written about years and years later?

You never know what little things will become big things.

Our actions, our choices — they matter. Those little things, the words we say, the things we make, the things we do — they might become a big thing someday.

Thank you, Mrs. Peterson, where ever you are for teaching me to love piano, for investing in me as a young child. Your JOY ornament reminds me to be intentional and to remember that the little things matter.

JOY 1985 meet 2011.

It’s the little things that sometimes have the most impact.