Today, as I left the lab after having blood drawn, I came upon a praying mantis sitting in the walkway unaware of the potential danger surrounding him. Concerned that he would either be stepped upon by someone unaware of the mantis's presence or be injured by the automatic doors closing on him, I decided to relocate him. Crawling on my cane, he seemed to enjoy our short walk to a grassy area that was free of foot traffic and would provide him with camouflage from prey.
I share this story not to boast about my good deeds but to exemplify how even the smallest acts of kindness make an impact and can bless you in return.
Luke 6:31 states, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
We are all God's creation, loved unconditionally by our Father God. Even those people who grate upon our last nerve should be shown kindness. In fact, Matthew 5:44 says, "...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
When we have God's love living in us, His light should be shining through us. We should be a beacon of His love, His hope and His grace.
As I went about my day, I thought about how many simple opportunities we miss out upon because we fill our days to the brim or because we feel our small efforts won't make a difference in the grander scheme of life.
Today, I want to encourage you to ask God to place at least one person in your path to whom you can be His loving presence. Even the smallest act of kindness can have a lasting impact that not only touches one life but can in turn have a rippling effect when the person you showed kindness to in turn shows kindness to another person and the cycle continues.
Lord, We ask you to humble us and help us to be still amidst the busyness of life. Please help us to obey Your gentle nudges and to see the people around us through Your eyes. Please place one person in our path today to whom we can be Your love, Your hope, and Your grace. We thank You for the opportunity to serve others and glorify you. Amen!