You will touch someone today. You really will. You will do something for someone today that will lift someone’s spirit. You may do something that will help someone physically. It maybe something as small as holding a door open for someone, but you will touch someone today, make that touch a positive touch. It can be the light touch of saying thank you to the person who held the door open for you. Little touches help us all have a more enjoyable day.
Sunday before last Paula and I attended worship at the 3rd & Kilgore church of Christ in Portales, New Mexico, on our arrival Paula’s mom began introducing us to her friends. You know how this goes, I’m sure you’ve been there; mom wants to introduce her kids to everyone so you politely stand and greet these folks. I know I have done this many times. I look for opportunities to introduce my kids to my friends, well let’s face it I’ll introduce my kids to complete strangers, because I’m proud of my kids. It elevates me for folks to know that these beautiful kids are mine.
So, there I stood shaking hands with people, and making nice conversation when all of a sudden the tables were turned. Nema, Paula’s mom, introduced me to a nice lady by saying, “This Kent my son-in-law.” and the lady said, “Oh, Grumpy, you’re Grumpy!” Well guess what? I had just been touched, she already knew Grumpy. She had never met him, but she knew him because she had read my book. She went on to tell me how much she had enjoyed reading Everyday Christianity, and that she had passed it along to her daughter. That same scene was repeated itself just a few minutes later when Nema introduced me to another lady. Yes, friends I was touched to know that I had been used to touch these ladies, and that they knew who Grumpy Smith was.
My day had just been brightened by knowing that something I had done through God had been memorable for someone else. The first lady had found my book worthy of passing it along to her daughter. Two hours later, after Bible class and worship, a young lady walked up to me, introduced herself to me and said “You’ve changed my life.” Yes, I was touched. It had been less than twenty-four hours ago that I’d sat in the car driving to Portales asking God to show me where He wanted me, and where He needed me. I had wondered if I was traveling the path He had laid out for me. Now I was being confirmed by God through these ladies, just as God had used me to touch and “change” someone’s life.
Here’s the deal friend, I don’t believe a person has to write a book in order to touch, or even change someone else’s life. Use whatever gift you have to touch those you come in contact with. A few months back I ran into a young lady from church, and after we had greeted one another from across the room I walked over and gave her little side by side hug. When I reached around her back she jumped because she had not seen me walk her way and was surprised to have someone hugging her. We both laughed and said our goodbyes. The next time Paula and I saw her I apologized for frightening her, and she said “No, no, I want to thank you for the hug. I had had a rough morning, but when I got back to the office I got to thinking about that hug, and all of a sudden my day became brighter.” You will touch someone today. You will leave them with an impression. Be sure to make it a positive impression.
Till next time,
Grump