Several years ago, I had a “gratitude journal”, in which I wrote down things at the end of the day I was thankful for. It may have been something small, or something big…but in that moment, I was thankful to God for it. I had a special book for this, but as I was cleaning out my desk drawers yesterday, trying to find a place for the mountain of papers that have accumulated on top of it, I found a little notebook in the back of the drawer. I always quickly take my thumb and do a quick scan of the pages to see what might be inside, before deciding whether to keep or trash it. Well, as my eyes skimmed the pages quickly, it seemed to be empty except for one page at the very front. It was a single page of gratitude.
Now, as I looked back at the date scribbled on top of the page, I can recall that day in my mind based on some of the things written down. At that time in my life I was going through a separation/divorce. My life was flipped upside down. I smiled through a lot of pain most days. My life was not what I had planned and I wasn’t okay with that. But, the last line got me emotional as I organized the endless pencils and erasers in the drawer…
“The man in the pew in front of me asking if I was okay.”
Now, I don’t have the slightest clue who the man was, what church I was sitting in or what my answer was…yet at the end of that day, I remembered someone just asking if I was okay. That meant a lot to me at that time in my life when I felt like everything was “not okay”. It made an impact on my day…I was thankful that someone who didn’t know me cared enough to ask about me.
You know, I think we get so focused on how we are feeling on any given day, that we forget to ask how others are feeling. I know everyone has struggles…big ones and small ones…but if we can recall the mind of Christ, He was always sensitive to the needs of those around him. He is the definition of love (in the flesh). He may have not always told people what they wanted to hear, but He always said what needed to be heard. I want to be like that. I want to be like that man in the pew in front of me on that September day who just simply turned around and asked if I was okay. I want to be the person that is quick to point out the good in others and encourage someone to take leaps of faith.
My desire is to always be sensitive to those around me…paying attention to the needs of others.
Do I fail? Absolutely. Will I probably continue to miss opportunities? Sure. But when focusing my eyes and tuning my ears toward God, He will always reveal to me an opportunity to be Jesus to this world.
I challenge you today to seek out someone that doesn’t look “okay”. They are all around us. Encourage them. Give them a hug. Compliment their outfit. Buy their lunch. You have the ability because of Who lives within you (if you are a believer) to make a difference. Just because someone is smiling doesn’t mean everything is okay.
To the man in the pew: Thank you. I am more than okay, today because of people like you that invested in me, prayed for me and encouraged me.
Lord, thank you for the simple reminder that your plans are so much better than our plans. You make a way when there is no way. You are my refuge and in whom I trust. I will never doubt how great and might You are!