What a great concept! This easy-to-digest advice assumes a purpose for each of us. Wherever we are, we have an opportunity to discover that purpose. I believe our universal purpose is pretty simple – to help others feel God’s love. That’s something we can do anywhere.
How do we make those around us more aware of God’s love? My friend, Suzy, taught me one answer through the simplicity of her humanity. One hot Boston afternoon, we stopped in a busy Starbuck’s. She greeted the clerk with a smile and a, “Hi, how’s it going?” The clerk, surprised, smiled back and said, “Today’s OK.” Simple, friendly, caring, unintrusive, Suzy’s kindness bloomed right where she was at that moment. She saw an opportunity to brighten someone’s day a bit, and she did it.
How do we make those around us more aware of God’s love? My friend, Suzy, taught me one answer through the simplicity of her humanity. One hot Boston afternoon, we stopped in a busy Starbuck’s. She greeted the clerk with a smile and a, “Hi, how’s it going?” The clerk, surprised, smiled back and said, “Today’s OK.” Simple, friendly, caring, unintrusive, Suzy’s kindness bloomed right where she was at that moment. She saw an opportunity to brighten someone’s day a bit, and she did it.
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“Love, redolent* with unselfishness,
bathes all in beauty and light.”
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Cheering those we meet just happens to make us feel good too. Amazing how that works. A flower picked is gone. But joy shared multiplies. We just feel better about ourselves and the world if we have made someone else a little happier.
What if we are feeling too sad to even think about cheering someone else? Here is another amazing fact. Sharing God’s joy begins lifting us out of the sadness. The reason is because the source of the joy isn’t in us, rather it’s outside of ourselves. As we let that source of universal love and caring flow through us to others, it does not leave us unchanged. We’re cheered as well.
Blooming where we are, sharing some comfort or joy right where we happen to be, satisfies our heart's yearning for purpose.
*Note: The word “redolent” means fragrant! So, here's a question: are we more fragrant when we’re being genuinely unselfish?
1 comment:
From Asia.
I visited your blog and I know you are a Christian with firm belief and a kind heart. Sometimes I still feel it's unbelievable when I thought of our meeting via skype. It must be an arrangement from GOD if he does exist. I felt your kindness through our talking.
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