Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Cracker Crumbs and Little Friend

When you first read the title of this message, you might think I’m referring to finding a mouse or some other little creature eating cracker crumbs. No, not this time.
This past weekend, Alan decided to vacuum the floor in the living room. He’s a sweetheart! He takes care of the vacuuming and yes, I appreciate him very much.

As I was in our home office writing articles, blog posts, and taking care of other things on the computer, I heard the laundry room closet door open and close. I could hear Alan moving the vacuum across the floor and unwrapping the cord. A slap sounded when the cord hit the floor.

The loud sounds of my hard working husband and the hard working vacuum cleaner began. I kept writing. Best if I stayed out of the way. Alan was on a mission. I could hear Alan grunting as he moved the heavy vacuum cleaner back and forth across thick carpet and then, on to the hardwood floor.

Ten minutes passed. Machine turned off and all was quiet. The only sounds I could hear were the ice maker in the refrigerator and the sweet laughter of children playing outdoors.

Footsteps…

Alan entered the office. Stretching out his right arm, he opened his palm to display a tiny toy figure.

“What’s this? Where did this come from? I found this toy stuck between the sides of the cushion of the brown chair in the living room. I also found a lot of cracker crumbs under the chair.”

“Oh, my goodness! That is Rowan’s little friend,” I remembered. Rowan had brought “little friend” with him when he came to play last week. Certain toys are very important to three years old boys. I hoped Rowan was not missing this special toy.

We placed “little friend” on the kitchen counter in plain sight, so as not to lose him again. As for the cracker crumbs, they have found a new home in the vacuum cleaner canister. When I empty the can, their new home will be the trash.

I asked the Lord to show me the lesson to be learned from cracker crumbs and “little friend”. The Lord answered. He reminded me that we are never lost when we have Jesus in our heart. He reminded me that even cracker crumbs have a purpose. If Alan had not been vacuuming up the cracker crumbs, he would not have found Rowan’s special toy.

Have you looked under your chairs or couch lately? Are there cracker crumbs or toys waiting to be found? Each moment is precious. Take time to thank God for the small things in life. There’s always something to be learned. Share your crackers. Share your toys. Share His love.

Blessings and laughter,
Mimi aka Melissa

38 Comments
  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 11:58h, 05 March Reply

    Beautiful message, Melissa. I too believe it’s the small things in life that teach us the biggest lessons. Wishing you and the family a peaceful weekend. xo

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:09h, 05 March Reply

      Thank you Jill. Have a wonderful and peaceful weekend, too. 🙂

  • Ava Pennington
    Posted at 12:34h, 05 March Reply

    Taking time to find blessing in the little things. 🙂

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 12:40h, 05 March Reply

      Yes, yes Ava! Have a glorious day finding blessings in the little things. 🙂

  • Carol Souders
    Posted at 13:34h, 05 March Reply

    So true. Sweet story.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:39h, 05 March Reply

      Thank you Carol. Have a wonderful and blessed weekend. 🙂

  • June Foster
    Posted at 16:08h, 05 March Reply

    We’re driving on our way to Valdosta Georgia then tomorrow to Orlando. I read your post to my husband and he said he could tell that was a writer friend. Love the way you find a spiritual message I every day life.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 16:10h, 05 March Reply

      How sweet! Thank you and thank Joe for me. I love how God allows us to find His message in the everyday moments. Have a great trip! Stay safe. 🙂

  • Lisa Quintana
    Posted at 18:40h, 05 March Reply

    That’s awesome in that you look for moments in every day situations to ask the Lord for insight and wisdom. He is faithful to answer! What a great lesson, in more ways than one. We would all do better if we took the time to ask God to teach us things throughout our day. Bless you, Melissa.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:45h, 05 March Reply

      Thank you Lisa. Yes, He is faithful to answer. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!

  • Melissa McLaughlin
    Posted at 19:04h, 05 March Reply

    Such a sweet story of daily living that can become and beautiful lesson in the Lord, when we invite Him to teach us. Thank you for sharing this memory and your way of inviting God into your heart and your day!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:46h, 05 March Reply

      Thank you Melissa. I love how God gives us opportunities to draw closer to Him. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • Vickie's Kitchen and Garden
    Posted at 20:36h, 05 March Reply

    Aww I’m glad his friend was found. Toys are switched around houses here. Granddaughter just left with some but not her little fox called South who was a friend to her cat named North. I’ve looked under the couch and through the wild living room that is being renovated so far to no avail. I’ll find it before North gets too lonely.
    God watches over even the little things that are important to the little ones. He cares for us all.
    Have a great weekend!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:47h, 05 March Reply

      How sweet! Vickie, I’m hoping you find South soon. Yes, God watches over the little things, too. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • J.D. Wininger
    Posted at 01:31h, 06 March Reply

    Ms Melissa; your post brought tears of joy from memories past. After my turning my back on my faith for many years, He allowed me to fall about as far as any man can from his faith. Once I found the bottom of my pit, He helped me find the courage to scratch and claw my way out of the self-made pit. In doing so, there were lots of broken pieces I had to crawl over, put behind me, clean up, and dispose of. As I made my way back, I too found the friend who was hidden away for those years, still in my heart. As I straightened His robe and placed Him back on the throne of my heart, He did a lot of cleaning up within me. When I was finally reunited with my “friend”, “companion”, “comforter”, and “mentor”, my joy was restored. I pray your little grandson Rowan’s joy is restored and finding his “little friend.” Thank you for warming my heart on this damp, chilly evening. God’s blessings ma’am.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 02:14h, 06 March Reply

      Dear J.D., thank you so much for sharing your heart.Your words touch my heart and soul. I am thankful you were reunited with Him. Rowan was very happy to see “little friend” when he came to play yesterday. The joy of a 3 year old little boy brings happiness to us all. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • Karen Jurgens Harrison
    Posted at 05:16h, 06 March Reply

    I love how we learn God’s lessons through the small things that happen. We never know what is waiting at the end of a trail of breadcrumbs! Thanks for a delightful story to brighten my day. Love you, Mimi ❤️😘

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:10h, 06 March Reply

      Thank you Karen. I love how God uses anything to teach us lessons. We can even learn with breadcrumbs and toys. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • Nancy E. Head
    Posted at 14:05h, 06 March Reply

    What a joy to have the little messes the little ones make. If everything is too clean, that means nobody came. We’ve had too much of that over the last year. How blessed we are when we share our homes.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:10h, 06 March Reply

      I love that statement! “If everything is too clean, that means nobody came.” Yes! Yes! I’m still cleaning up play dough and cracker crumbs from Thursday. haha! Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • Diana Derringer
    Posted at 16:13h, 06 March Reply

    Thank you for a great message from a sweet story.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 19:29h, 06 March Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

  • Yvonne Morgan
    Posted at 21:02h, 06 March Reply

    I just love how God is so quick to show us a lessons in the events of our day. A prayer whispered and a moment later it is answered because He listens and hears us.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:06h, 06 March Reply

      Amen. God listens and answers. Even the little things are important to Him. Have a blessed weekend. 🙂

  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 23:59h, 06 March Reply

    Sometimes the smallest items (and moments!) and the most precious. Great message, Melissa!!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:14h, 07 March Reply

      Thank you Jessica. Yes, even the smallest items and moments can be precious. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!

  • Bettie G
    Posted at 13:51h, 07 March Reply

    Such a sweet gift to find little Rowan’s toy, and to have those memories stirred in your heart too! I love the blessings that our Father brings to everyday moments.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:19h, 07 March Reply

      Thank you Bettie. I, too, love the blessings our Father brings in everyday moments. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 03:18h, 09 March Reply

    Oh my gosh, Melissa! You find the sweetest gifts in all things! Thank you for making me smile and for making me remember that God is in everything–even our cracker crumbs!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:26h, 09 March Reply

      Thank you Lynn. Yes, God is found in everything, even cracker crumbs. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  • Jeanne Takenaka
    Posted at 23:57h, 09 March Reply

    I love your heart to find God’s lesson in each situation you face, Melissa. I appreciate the reminder that we can see God’s presence even in (perhaps especially in) life’s little things. And, I have looked under the couch cushions where my youngest likes to chill. Let’s just say . . . it’s time for him to vacuum there. 😉

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 00:29h, 10 March Reply

      Thank you Jeanne. Haha! Time for a vacuum under the couch. I understand. 🙂 Have a blessed week!

  • colarnold
    Posted at 01:56h, 10 March Reply

    God sure does speak in mysterious ways! Thanks for the sweet reminder, Melissa

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:05h, 10 March Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, God speaks in mysterious ways. Have a blessed day! 🙂

  • dscales24
    Posted at 12:45h, 17 March Reply

    Melissa, thank you for the reminder to look for significance in small things. Grandchildren are such blessings, and I enjoy reading about your special little boy.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:30h, 17 March Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, grandchildren are blessings. I learn something new every time I am with Rowan and little sister Eden. Have a blessed week! 🙂

  • Melinda Viergever Inman
    Posted at 23:21h, 19 March Reply

    I love sweet stories about sweet little grandchildren. I’m glad the little friend was found.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:33h, 19 March Reply

      Thank you Melinda. Yes, I’m glad his “little friend” was found. Grandchildren are wonderful. Have a blessed weekend! 🙂

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