Taped to the door of our refrigerator, surrounded by pictures of great-grandchildren, a brief quote of business coach, Wanda Loscot, gives this good advice to all who pass by: “It takes about three minutes to write a thank-you note, fold it, stick it in an envelope and mail it, but the power of it is awesome.” Fred Suffield agrees.

Fred had been sound asleep when he suddenly awoke to the sound of someone pounding on his door. Moments later he stood face to face with a half-frozen man who frantically told him that a train had become stalled in a snow storm and that the passengers were in danger of freezing to death.

Lighting a lantern, Fred followed the messenger to the site of the stalled train and led the travelers to his house where they waited until the storm subsided and help came. Later, one of the passengers, named Kittie, sent a thank-you note to Fred. Surprised and pleased, Fred answered the note from Kittie and then, over time, something noteworthy happened: Fred and Kittie fell in love and were married.

After their marriage, Fred and Kittie started attending a church in Ottawa, Canada, pastored by Rev. A.J. Shea. There they found faith, became more and more active in the church and finally embarked on a ministry of their own. One summer, while conducting services at a church in Westport, Ontario, they invited the teenage son of pastor and Mrs. Shea (named George Beverly) to spend a month with them and one night they asked him to sing in one of the meetings.

Accompanied by Kittie at the piano, young George Beverly Shea attempted to sing but when his voice cracked on one of the high notes he sat down, embarrassed, and vowed he would never sing again but Kittie had a better idea: she suggested he simply sing in a lower key. He did and Kitties’ coaching worked. George Beverly Shea later became Billy Graham’s soloist and one of the favorite gospel singers of all time.

During their years together, Fred and Kittie wrote a song titled, “Little Is Much When God Is in It,” a tune that was destined to be widely known.

Why did they choose this title?

Perhaps they had been thinking about a Canadian blizzard that stopped a train and brought Kittie to Fred’s little house. Maybe it was the memory of a little thank-you note that started communication between them, leading to love and marriage.

Possibly it reminded them of a nervous teen who overcame embarrassment and surrendered his talent to God, enabling him to reach millions with his message.

Whatever the reason for the title Fred and Kittie chose for their common sense musical creation, it states a principle that will always be true: gifts, talents or time given to the Lord bring greater blessings than the giver could have imagined.

You may think your talents are small, or that you have none at all.

Give what you have to God and discover the song Fred and Kittie wrote is true.

And note this: The brief thank-you note Kittie wrote to Fred revealed she had a thankful heart and this discovery captured his. Then together they learned an important lesson: God often gives songs in the night, after the storms are through (Job 35:10).

Editor’s note: Roger Campbell was an author, a broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years. A new book containing over one hundred of his best columns, “Everywhere You Go There’s a Zacchaeus Up a Tree,” an ideal Father’s Day gift is now available at your local or online bookseller. Contact us at rcministry@ameritech.net.