Rome was not built in a day.” This saying tells you and me that everything began somewhere. Everything big was once small, for anything that has been born big has contradicted the course of nature. In every small beginning, there is a massive ending that is still undisclosed.

All great rivers, the Amazon, Mississippi, Limpopo, Zambezi, the Vaal and the rest began from springs, small beginnings, flowing from the top of mountains. Every man and woman on Earth today was born an infant. All births begin small. Even behemoth companies like Netflix, Facebook, Apple and Econet Global started small with few employees, low turnover and poor infrastructure.

Zechariah 4 vs 9-10 says “… Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this temple, and he will also complete it. Then you will know the Lord of Heaven’s armies has sent me to you. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord Rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in the

Zerubbabel’s hand.”

The foundation of a building is the least aesthetically pleasing, if considered at all. We never comment on how beautiful or artistic it is. Do you know why? Because it is hidden and yet everything that people do see and appreciate rests upon this overlooked platform.

If no one appreciates your small beginnings, learn from the foundation of a building. No one really sees the 40 stories of crystal exterior that beautifully captures the sunset in the evening or the vintage Victorian look of a country estate while looking at the foundation.

To break it down, 1 million Rands is made up of 100 000 000 cents. For the business person, it takes recognising that first seemingly insignificant cent that enters the business and putting a system in place start accumulating more of its kin.  Gradually, through time, discipline and sound judgement, the business amasses a million Rands from that initial seed (small beginning) of 1 cent. If you were to take that 1 cent from a million, it ceases to be a million and becomes R999 999.99.

So as much as the cent may look small and insignificant when viewed in isolation, its value as part of a whole system must not be underestimated. Do not quit that small business simply because you can’t seem to shed the “Small” moniker. Consult with established business people and get to appreciate their development in business.  Others started by selling sweets to pedestrians, on trains and on street stalls. Today they are supermarket giants.

Whenever the devil looks at every small beginning he attacks because he is aware of the greatness that us hidden in that beginning. I remember when I was growing up I used to get sick before exams but by the Grace of God I would still excel. I take these as attacks on small beginnings. Even Jesus Christ was also attacked by Herod as an infant. In Matthew 2 vs 13 the devil was aware of the task and mission ahead of Christ so the Lord sent an angel to spare his life. The reason why we kill a snake even if it is small is we are not killing size but the poison it carries and we mitigate the danger before it grows. We notice the potential danger that may arise in future so we nip it in the bud during small beginnings.