A little can go a long way!
How do you feel when you go to the mail box and get something other than a bill? It automatically brings a smile to your face and a sense of relief. Then upon opening the card or letter you smile again when you see who it is from and how unexpected it was. What a pleasant surprise! It brought joy to your day!
Happiness is like a chain letter, it should be passed on, multiplying it exponentially. You can be the giver and the receiver, and double your blessing. You felt so good knowing someone was thinking of you, and you can think of someone else besides yourself. There are times when we would like to curl up in a ball and shut the world out. It never makes things better, but bringing joy to someone else, regardless of your happenstance, is very rewarding.
If you know someone is under the weather, make them some soup. Or if you are not much of a cook, make a basket filled with canned soup, crackers, tissues etc. The thought is the same and besides being grateful, they just may pay it forward at a later date.
If you see your neighbor’s car is full of snow, and you are out cleaning your walks and driveway, take a minute and brush off their car, maybe even shovel a path to the car. It doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence, but you never know what a little kindness in someone’s life may mean to them on any given day.
My husband was standing in line at a truck stop, waiting to pay for his purchase, while the lady in front of him was searching for a few more bills to finish her transaction. He could see her embarrassment and frustration, and wanting to help, handed the clerk a five dollar bill to satisfy the balance. She was visibly moved by his generosity and thanked him profusely. He just told her to help someone else sometime. It made her day, and truth be told, gave my husband a feeling of contentment.
There are a million ways to go the extra mile in showing, thinking of, and helping others. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Remember you can never out give God, he will return it to you multiplied.
As parents we need to teach our children to do things without looking for rewards. To think of others and bring joy when and where they can. Saving money in a small bank for missionaries is one way to teach them to send their blessings forward.
We as authors can use our influence in our writings to show how much joy both the giver, and the receiver, can obtain by simple acts of kindness. So do your part to pay it forward.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matthew 5:41
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Ephesians 3:19-21
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
II Corinthians 9:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8