I feel like titling this meditation: The Victory Over the Pickle Jar.” It doesn’t sound very dramatic, does it? It would make a strange book title, and the movie wouldn’t sell.
We all know, however, that our daily lives don’t contain many movie-worthy moments. Life is mostly made up of ordinary things.
No trumpets announce most of our accomplishments. No crowds cheer. No medals or certificates are handed out. Most days, it takes effort to get up, make coffee, go to work, do the dishes, answer the emails, run the errands—and occasionally wrestle with a pickle jar.
The pickle jar was how I started my Monday morning. I bought the pickles a week or so ago, and I’ve tried about everything to open the jar. Brute strength. Hot water. Conking it against the counter. Repetition. Nothing worked. In my imagination, the pickles began mocking me.
But this morning, while Tori was outside in the yard, I tried again. I was feeling strong. And, finally, it opened. Success worth sharing!
I know—it’s just a pickle jar. But for a brief moment, it felt like a victory. A small reminder that sometimes persistence pays off, even in the most mundane moments.
I think that’s where God meets us most often—not in the extraordinary, but in the middle of ordinary Monday mornings.
Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10). I don’t think he was talking about a pickle jar … but maybe, on some days, Jesus knows that’s about all I’ve got in me.
So, this morning, try not to overlook the little things. A cup of coffee. A conversation. A task you’ve been putting off. They may seem insignificant, but they’re the “stuff” our lives are made of. They’re what get us through another day. They can even be the building blocks of a stronger faith.
What “pickle jar” do you need to conquer today?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ordinary moments that fill our days. Help me to notice your presence not only in the big things, but in the simple and mundane moments as well. Give me patience when things don’t open easily, perseverance when I’m tempted to give up, and gratitude for the little victories along the way. Amen.
