Good morning church and happy Saturday. I trust that you had a good week. Now that summer is here, maybe things will start to seem a bit more normal. I sure am looking forward to our regathering service on June 28th. I hope that you will join us.
The other evening, Michelle and I were on a walk. As we passed by a local apartment complex, I was reading the signs that they had put up during the early stages of the pandemic. They were simple statement meant to bring encouragement to the residents. Even though I had seen them dozens of times before, for whatever reason, one caught my attention this time. The sign simply stated, “Be the reason that someone else smiles today.” I immediately thought, “what if we really did that?” Think about it, what if a large group of people intentionally set out to make other people smile each day? What if kindness, courtesy and compassion became the norm? What if more and more people rose above complaining, criticizing and being uncourteous? Wouldn’t the community start to look and feel different? Better? A nicer place to be? It sounds so simple, the idea that we intentionally try to bring just a little happiness into the lives of those around us? However, it can be a bit of a challenge. It is easy to be caught up in the things that we need to accomplish, the busyness of life, that we don’t think about the people around us as much as we maybe should. It’s not as though we are being mean or seeking to harm those around us. Rather, it is just that we can have the tendency to ignore them or not even recognize we are on the same planet, let alone the same community.
Maybe it is worth a shot. What if we decide to make it a goal to do something kind for someone else each day? Obviously, our own homes are a great place to start. We also have friends, neighbors and co-workers. And then the people we don’t even know out in the community. Smile. Say, “hi” to someone. Hold open a door. Ask someone how their day is going. Be friendly, encouraging, positive. The world has enough of the other junk going on. As followers of Jesus, let us do what we can to allow Him to work in our lives. If we do, it will change us and the way we live. It might also help us to brighten someone else’s day as we let our light shine before others.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:12-13).
Hope you have a great day!
Larry
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