Enjoying the little moments

There's nothing wrong with looking forward to big events.

My younger son recently got married. For months, family and friends worked together to plan the best wedding possible for two kind and loving people.

I had the honor of being both the father of the groom and the officiant who performed the wedding.

Family members came from many miles away to celebrate the big event. The preparation, the rehearsal and the wedding itself were the product of time, money and commitment from many people (including, of course, the bride and groom!).

We all enjoyed the wedding. It was pleasantly exhausting. However, I must confess that several occasions leading up to the big event made the event even more special.

For instance, times spent talking with the young couple about their plans for the future, times when my wife and I reflected on how much both of our boys have matured and times when family members talked with us about their excitement about the new chapter in our son's life were important memories we will cherish alongside the big event.

My older son, the best man at the wedding, came in from his duties in the Navy to attend and to be with his brother, and the three of us drove to the rehearsal dinner together.

During that drive, we shared laughs, memories and music. Again, these "little moments" made the big event even more special.

No wonder the Bible emphasizes faithfulness in and enjoyment of little things, so that we can fully appreciate and enjoy the rest of life. In Luke 16:10, for example, it says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much..."

It seems this applies not only to the materials we possess, but also to the time we spend.

Maybe when we learn to cherish what others may be tempted to call "little moments," we can really learn to live life to the fullest. Also, the big moments can be all the more precious.