It’s in the Little Things

A tiny stone, picked up along the beach.

At first, it seems ordinary. Then something changes. You turn it over in your hand, noticing its shape, its color, the way years of wind and water have quietly transformed it. If you are willing to slow down long enough, it begins to tell a story.

Perhaps you slip it into your pocket. Perhaps after a moment you place it back or make a wish and toss it gently into the water. And somehow, in that simple act, the stone becomes a gift.

Somewhere deep within us, we are reminded that it is often the little things that bring our hearts the greatest joy.

I’d like to share a story with you about one such stone.

Over the years, crafting stone mushrooms became one of Erik’s favorite hobbies. At first, they found their way into gardens, tucked beneath plants or nestled among natural stone where they looked as though they had always belonged. But over time, something changed.

The mushrooms became smaller.

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Small enough to sit on a windowsill, a desk, or a favorite shelf. They became quiet reminders that nature lives within us, that wonder still exists, and that a little bit of magic can still be found if we choose to notice it.

While building miles of stone walls in the town of Topsfield, Erik began placing these tiny stone mushrooms throughout the walls near the road. There was no grand plan behind it. He simply liked the thought that someone out for a walk might discover one unexpectedly.

And that’s exactly what happened.

People began noticing them.

Then they began looking for them.

Friends brought friends. Families returned with children, hoping to be the next person to discover one hidden among the stones. The mushrooms were never meant to stay in the wall. If you found one, it was yours to keep.

I smile just thinking about that.

Imagine walking along a stone wall, admiring the landscape, when suddenly your eye settles on a tiny little stone mushroom tucked among the rocks.

I was there one day. I watched a group of friends walking along the wall when suddenly I heard the excitement:

“I found one!”

In that moment, I witnessed unexpected joy firsthand. I found myself smiling, grateful for the quiet gift Erik had chosen to leave for someone he would likely never meet.

Then one day, something even more meaningful happened.

A child who had discovered one of the mushrooms took the time to write a note of gratitude and tuck it into the stone wall, hoping Erik would find it.

And of course, he did.

After all, he knows every inch of those walls.

That small note found its way back to the very person who had quietly been leaving little gifts for others. It was a simple gesture, but one that carried more meaning than the child probably ever realized.

Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness have a way of finding their way home.