When the bishop extended the call to my husband and me, I honestly didn’t even know what that calling meant.

Pretty soon, the ward mission leader contacted us and asked us to come to a bimonthly meeting with the missionaries, followed by visiting members of the ward.

I diligently attended the meeting the first few times…

But soon, there was always a good excuse not to go to these meetings when they came around.

I mean, I had a busy life!

I remember thinking, “I know I’m not fulfilling my calling the best I can right now, but if I had a different, bigger calling, I would do better.”

I eventually realized I would never magically “do better” if I had more to do.

Heavenly Father wanted me to give my best no matter the calling.

As soon as I humbled myself and recommitted to my calling, I received a new one.

“And when he shall prove himself faithful in all things that shall be entrusted unto his care, yea, even a few things, he shall be made ruler over many.” (D&C 124:113)

Do we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that we would be better off if we had something “more important” to do?

The Lord asks us to show that we can be faithful with just a few things first.

Whether it’s starting a small family scripture study habit, saying personal prayers for just a minute, or saying hi to someone new, we can show our diligence in small and simple tasks.

He’s not expecting perfection.

But He is asking us to be filled with faith as we continue to try our best.

“Wake up and do something more than dream of your mansions above!”

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Waiting for bigger calling  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

or the planets in the sky

or our delicate and complicated ecosystems that work flawlessly virtually all the time

I am amazed at how much care our Heavenly Father put into the small details of this world. ⁣

And he did it all for us!

The littlest of details matter to Him.

And how much more important are we than the digestive system, Saturn, or the water cycle?!

“The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30)

I like to think that this is literal and not a figure of speech—

—that He really knows how many hairs we have. ⁣

He knows exactly how many hairs fell out of your head after you gave birth.

He knows when bald spots start showing from stress or disease.

He knows when your hair starts turning gray earlier than you hoped.

If you care about your hair, so does He.

He knows about all the details.

Everything that you are so worried about that you think no one else even notices.

The little efforts that you make that you wonder if they even make a difference.

He sees it all.

He sees even more than that.

He notices and counts and loves.

There is nothing too small for the Lord.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post He counts the hairs first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I started having a conversation with someone and I really wanted to know how she was doing…

And then my little boy crawled out of sight and I had to run after him.

I saw a new family at our linger longer after church that I wanted to get to know better.

And every single time I started walking their way, one of my kids desperately needed my urgent attention. And then the family got up and left.

I started catching up with another friend I hadn’t seen in a while.

And then I had to go stop by kid who was trying to climb all over the organ in the chapel.

I wanted to be friendly. I wanted to meet new people. To connect. To show love.

And my kids kept distracting me and throwing obstacle after obstacle my way.

I honestly left church feeling pretty bummed out.

I kept praying for a new perspective and some clarity all afternoon.

Eventually, the spirit brought two things to my mind.

First, I remembered the different uplifting interactions I had with people BECAUSE my kids were being a little crazy.

New friendships being made. Other people serving ME.

And secondly, the spirit brought to my mind this scripture, that I had already been pondering as one of my favorites from this Come, Follow Me week:

“Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” D&C 64:33

I felt like I missed out on some great things at church yesterday.

Because I was instead stuck doing a bunch of little, insignificant things.

Pulling out a Jesus book to distract, opening another pack of fruit snacks, pulling a hand away from a cord, picking up the kid trying to lick the A/C vent (again), picking up the goldfish, talking out of a meltdown, teaching about reverence in the chapel that seemed to go in one ear and out the other…

I did a lot of small things.

But I did them for two little kids that I love. Because they are so so so little. And right now, they need the fruit snacks. They need the carrying. They need the teaching. They need the constant attention.

And all of these small, little things…

Comes all the REALLY great stuff.

Seriously, these kids are going to be amazing grownups. I can tell already.

And because I will become greater as I step into my role as their mother.

Parenthood is doing a lot of the small stuff. The diaper changes, wiping up the spill, giving a hug, over and over.

Small stuff. All day, every day.

But it’s out of these small things.

The songs sung during the diaper change, the invitation to help mommy clean up the spill, the loving smile and little tickle when I give the hug.

Out of these small things proceedeth that which is great.

Artwork by Megan Lindsey, @huesandbluesart

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Small things at church first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.