The saying goes, “Dynamite comes in small packages.” There was a television commercial a few years ago, I don’t remember who the advertisement was for, but the tag line was, “It’s the little things that make us big.” I like those analogies. I’d like for you to be aware of the little things that happen in your presence today. I am asking you to be on the lookout for small acts of kindness, service, and courtesy today, and notice the effect those acts have on the recipient.
A little over a month ago I came through the door from the kitchen into the dining room at Chick-fil-A, and noticed one of the five young, single, professional ladies who are a part of our life group at church, standing in the line waiting to place her order. As soon as she saw me I smiled and spoke with a wave of my hand. She smiled back and said hello. I walked around the counter, and as she was placing her order I stepped beside her, put my arm around her, and gave her hug. She jumped, and looked at me like, “What in the world do you think you’re doing?” Then she smiled and said, “Oh, I didn’t see you come around here, I had no idea who was hugging me.”
We shared a few words of small talk and I went about my business, she got her to go order and left the store. The next Sunday, we met for our monthly life group at a burger joint and as Paula and I were sitting visiting with a few other folks this young lady walked up behind us and said, “Kent I just wanted to let you know that I had had a pretty trying morning the other day when you walked up and hugged me, but that hug changed my day. I had a great afternoon, that hug just changed the way I felt the rest of the day.” Look at the effect a small gesture had on her day, and then add to that the way she made me feel by letting me know that my hug had brightened her day.
The effects of kindness, love, service, and courtesy can be long lasting too. The act may not yield immediate results. I don’t think the initial hug had the effect I had anticipated. The instantaneous look on her face was not one of appreciation, but her face changed once she realized who had just hugged her, and even then the lasting effect took place after she had had time to reflect on the hug.
Most likely you will have the opportunity to brighten someone’s day today. You may have the chance to hold the door open for someone, or pick up something they have dropped. You may have the chance to simply smile at a stranger who seems to be carrying a heavy load. (Don’t look at them and say, ”Smile, it can’t be that bad.” How do you know it can’t be that bad?) Just smile and speak, be open to their response to you, and then encourage them with an act of kindness if you can. Tell someone they look nice. Let the car trying to merge into traffic, merge into traffic. Answer a request even if the answer is not what the other person wants to hear. That’s being courteous.
In closing allow me to give one more personal example of the long lasting effect our influence has on those around us. Monday morning at 7:00 o’clock I was standing on the number one tee waiting for it to get light enough to play golf. One of the men in the foursome asked if anyone had mosquito repellant. Until that time I hadn’t even noticed the pesky little buggers, and even then I chose to ignore them rather than apply the repellant. I continued on my merry way not feeling the effect the insects were have on me. Today, as I sit writing this post, I am feeling the effect those bugs had on me. It is taking just about all the strength I can muster not to scratch all of my extremities until I am raw. I must have twenty bites on my arms and legs, and every one of them reminds me of Monday morning. My interaction with those I come in contact with today will have an effect. The outcome can either be positive or negative, and it may last a long time. I promise to do the best I can to make it a positive effect, and I hope you will too.
Till next time,
Grump