I asked my friend Becca to write something for my blog while I’m away. I first met her over 5 years ago; she was one of many young people who came to serve with us on mission trips that summer. Then last January she moved to South Africa to spend a year in our internship program. Becca’s a Biblical Studies major at a Christian college, a great writer, a fantastic musician, and a wonderful friend.
The Secret is in the Sauce
I think the difference between Italian restaurants is not the location, but the sauce. It is all about what is in the sauce. Anybody that makes a mean meatball can testify to this as well. (Alece makes a mean meatball, by the way.) The defining factor between something that is crap and something that is great is the details, the sprinkles of this and that.
I feel like I am learning so much lately about the little things adding up. I’ve recently been on a YouTube kick. I found a funny skit about the tooth fairy, and I can always manage to find people falling on their arses when I need to cheer myself up. Lately though, I found that there are tutorials all over the net. I discovered videos of people showing how to play songs on the guitar. Yay for no tablature!
I looked up a whole bunch of songs that my ears could never figure out, like Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car and John Mayer’s Stop This Train. On my own, my ears could pick up a portion of what John was playing (we’re on a first name basis, John and I), but not the full range of beauty. Once I learned the correct rhythm, the song sounded much fuller. I realized that the beauty is in the small things—the nuances, the details. The crescendo and decrescendo of life is what makes it so beautiful.
The little things add up.
My Dad, even now, is always saying to me, “You gotta save those pennies, you know; they will add up someday!” So the jar I have with the picture of a cow saying “Moola” is gaining weight as I toss in my spare change. It is true: it adds up.
It’s the same with the little things in our lives. Like when someone looks you in the eye as they ask how you’re doing. Or when you lean over and tell someone you love them because of XYZ. Or when the person holding your hand squeezes it to let you know they care.
Next time you don’t think the small things are important, try to remember that they really do add up.
- Becca Schneider
(Be sure to check out her blog!)
good thoughts! such an easy thing to forget, but still so important to remember!
By: danielle on August 10, 2008
at 8:32 am
Preach it!!
Becca friend, You hit a grand slam homer with this. I’m actually going to share this at my morning meeting this morning with my volunteers at Impress.
Awesome Post!!!! I’m soooooo excited.
By: Heidi on August 10, 2008
at 9:25 am
Becca, I love the no nonsense way you look at things. You are so right that the small things count. Thanks for helping me imagine it along with you as you wrote.
I concur with Alece that you are a great writer.
By: @ngie on August 10, 2008
at 10:22 am
I concur. The secret is in the sauce of our relationships!!
By: kristiapplesauce on August 10, 2008
at 2:32 pm
Good job Becca!!!
By: moweezle on August 10, 2008
at 4:18 pm
AH! Love it!!
Your penny story makes me think of my bank account. For four years I would OVER deduct…like, something was 2.50 I would deduct 3.00…and after four years, doing that left us with nearly $900 in our account. Quite a nice surprise! ;-)
“Or when the person holding your hand squeezes it to let you know they care.”
Or when Alece grabs your wenis? ;-) he he he
Love this post!
By: Bran Muffin on August 10, 2008
at 6:36 pm
Great post, Becca! This sounds like it should be in Chicken Soup for the Soul or something. :) Well done!
By: annie on August 11, 2008
at 12:10 pm
good stuff Becca… as always!!
By: Amy on August 11, 2008
at 2:27 pm
Great post! It is always the smallest things that matter most! Thanks for reminding us. I use to be a waitress and I would always save out my change for saving money, it was always around $100 after a month! Ah the days of not having any expenses! When did you do your internship with them? I think I remember a Becca that was with them on their trip to Maun in 2003. I think there were only 3 interns then. Was that you or am I totally making this up in my head?
By: faithstart on August 11, 2008
at 9:16 pm
Becca Rocks.. everyone should read her regular blog. :)
By: Hannah on August 12, 2008
at 12:15 am
Faith: I went to Maun, but that was just this past year. One of Thrive’s staff members may have gone along (her name is Rebecca), so maybe that’s what you’re thinking?
And yes, it is exactly like when Alece grabs my wenis.
Thanks everybody!
I’m taking a week or two hiatus from my own blogging because of the craziness that is: RA in a dorm, but I’ll be back at some point.
By: Becca on August 12, 2008
at 12:35 am
becca — only when i got home did i realize the formatting was jacked up on this post. so sorry, friend. ’tis all fixed now. better late than never? whosknows. sorry it looked not-right for so long. sigh.
i smiled that you said “it’s exactly like when alece grabs my wenis”.
i miss your wenis.
By: alece on August 15, 2008
at 11:31 pm