I have always loved the stories in the Bible. As I gather resources to plan my sermon calendar for 2026, I find myself drawn to the characters who don’t get marquee billing. They slip into the story almost unnoticed, sometimes not even named, but what they do changes everything.

Consider Shiphrah and Puah, the Hebrew midwives in Exodus. They defied Pharaoh’s orders to kill all newborn males, and saved the lives of countless children. Their quiet courage carried the covenant forward and made space for Moses’ birth. Or Ruth, a foreign widow with no claim to status. She clung to Naomi and chose a new life in Bethlehem. Through her faithfulness, the covenant line continued all the way to David, and eventually to Jesus. Or how about Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s grandmother and mother, whose steady faith passed the covenant along to him, shaping him into the young man Paul would later call a partner in the gospel.

There are many unnamed difference makers. Do you remember the boy who handed over his lunchbox? He wasn't anybody special, just a kid whose parents had taught him to share. His gift fed thousands that day, and his generous act feeds our faith still today. How about the widow in the temple who gave her two small coins? No one noticed, or considered her measly offering significant. But Jesus did. And her quiet generosity echoes down through the generations as a sign of faith for us yet today.

When I read these stories, I'm reminded that one doesn't have to be a king or prophet to make a difference. I think that someday, on the other side of eternity, we are going become aware of the difference we made in this world. And I bet that much of that difference comes from small acts we didn't pay much attention to at the time. It's not to say that the bigger, intentional things aren't important; of course they are. But also, being the good-mannered and thoughtful people we were raised to be might impact the world in ways unknown.

Actions like the encouraging text you send to a friend. The meal you drop off for a neighbor. The prayer you whisper when no one else hears. These things may feel small, maybe even unseen, but they matter. They ripple outward in ways you may never fully know, and they matter deeply to God.

Take a walk through scripture and pay attention to the ones that go unnamed. Look at the small actions they took, or the words they shared. Some of the best sermons and life lessons can be found there.

My wish for you this week, Reader, is to do the "small" things with the same heart you do the "big" things. Reach out to that person who's been on your mind. Hold the doors, share the smiles, be generous when you can, and treat all as though they carry the presence of Jesus, for indeed they do. That's the fiLLLed life.

Live a fiLLLed life, Melissa ​

P.S. This is a hint about what I'm working on and will share soon. :)