Just a Little Thing

Bree's mom looked flustered as she grabbed her purse. "I'm going across the street to Grandma's to shampoo her hair," Mom said. "When I get back, I'd love for you to help me make some cookies. I'm supposed to bring a treat to work tomorrow.""Okay, Mom," Bree said. As Mom hurried out the door, Bree had an idea. I've helped Mom make cookies lots of times. I'll mix them now, and then Mom will only have to bake them. Bree went to the kitchen and found the recipe for her favorite cookies--chocolate mountains. She read the directions, then began putting ingredients into a bowl and stirring them together. Let's see--it says to add a teaspoon of baking powder. Bree looked for the baking powder, but she couldn't find it. Well, it only calls for one teaspoon, so it probably doesn't matter that much.Bree finished mixing the cookies and had the first batch ready for the oven when Mom came back. "Oh, Bree, thank you!" said Mom. "I was wondering how I was going to get everything done today."When the timer went off, Bree eagerly went to the oven and took out the pan. "Oh, Mom, they're flat! They're not mountains."Mom looked at the cookies. "Are you sure you put in enough baking powder?""I couldn't find it," Bree replied. "But it only calls for one teaspoon, so I didn't think it could be that important.""In this kind of cookie it is. It's what makes them rise into cookie mountains. Maybe we can fix it." Mom got the baking powder and vigorously mixed it into the rest of the batter. "Don't feel bad about it, honey," Mom said when she saw the crestfallen look on Bree's face. "Just remember little things are important.""Like the little boy's lunch that Jesus used to feed thousands of people?" asked Bree. "We just had that story in Sunday school.""Right," said Mom. "When we offer anything to Jesus out of love and gratitude for all He's done for us, He will use our gift to bless others, no matter how small it is." Mom smiled at Bree. "Today He used your gift of making these cookies to remind me that He loves me and is with me on busy days." -Vera M. Hutchcroft