All I had was a little bite
Not enough to reckon with
All I sought was a winsome smile
Not at all to bother him
I didn’t want to cause a scene
So in secret, I passed it on
And as I turned to sneak away
I bumped into another
Who passed it right back to me.
To many of us, life is a very complicated process but every once in a while, the simplicity of living shines through the convolutions, generating warmth, emitting compassion from cold hearts. Even in my darkest moments, I have been blessed with the glimmer coming from people who sometimes I knew and some others didn’t, who equally didn’t realize that their seemingly trivial smile or modest complement was an incredible burst of light, blazing through my gloom. And how much difference such little gestures of kindness make in dire moments of our lives.
Recently, I went to the bank for some transactions. Parking is always a challenge in this particular bank so in the course of previous visits, I identified a particular security guard that would go the extra mile to help customers. Unlike others who would stand and watch you struggle, he will step up and try to help. And he would do it with a smile. He displayed no special skills or intelligence. The difference between him and the rest to me is that he will step up and lend a hand without being asked. He addressed people respectfully and rarely appeared to seek or ask for anything in return, which is unique in a society where it appears many ask for favors, for doing what they should.
On this particular day, when I finished my transaction and emerged from the bank, he was not anywhere near the exit where my car was parked. Instead, there was another security guy just standing there. I wanted to see this particular fellow so I stepped away to look for him. I saw him at the entrance end, directing traffic so I beckoned and waited.
When he came around, I passed on a little package I had for him and his face lit up. He was happy and thankful, I was grateful so I got into my car to drive out. There was another car parked right across from mine and I saw three guys disembarking so I stepped on the brakes to let them pass. One of the guys turned to me and raised his voice. “God bless you madam! It is not every day we see a beautiful rich woman going out of her way to be kind. God will bless you for your kindness.”
I was totally floored! He didn’t even know what I had given to the guy. And the gift wasn’t a lot. But whatever he had seen was enough for him to raise his voice. And I was drenched by that voice. It highlighted once again the fact that the world we live in is such a small circle where whatever we give comes right back to us, often through another route, in a different form, but it sure comes back. And unlike we often think, that rewards take a while, some sure hit you right there and then.
It is good to know that as we think of others, someone else somewhere, if not in the same place, is thinking of us. As we give, so it is returned to us. As we reach out to put a smile on someone’s face, so God reaches through others we may or may not know, to surprise and cover our faces with smiles that are neither self-induced nor vainly generated. That was what happened when Jesus gave up His glory and came to us in garbs of flesh. For daring to humble Himself, focused on our salvation, God exalted Him and restored not only His life but also His glory and honor. From Him we learn: to be like Him, we strive.
Truly, what goes around sure comes around. In this season of jubilation, I want to be a blessing to those who come my way. And I am hopeful that those whose paths I cross will be used by God who knows and meets needs, to reach out and touch me in my needy places. Today and always, I encourage you to pass it on and don’t stop. As you celebrate the Christ who came to pass it on to us, may you never stop passing good to those you meet, amen!
Glory!