I was grocery shopping the other day at one of those places that requires a twenty-five cent deposit to get a shopping cart. As I was returning my cart to the line, a car pulled up, and out emerged an elderly shopper. I brought my cart to a stop in front of her.
"Warmed it up for ya."
A shaking, wrinkled hand offered a quarter to me.
"No thanks, it's yours." I smiled and returned my vehicle.
It is amazing how impressed I was with myself! Look at me! What a generous soul, this superhero who was willing to part with his 25 cent deposit! Ridiculous.
It occurs to me that most of the gestures of kindness that are available to me to offer are totally free- they come with no assigned dollar amount. Simply opening a door, listening to another person, smiling, or letting someone go first; these small gifts cost nothing yet so often we refuse to offer them.
At some point in the next ten minutes you will have an opportunity to extend a similar inexpensive kindness to another person, perhaps a total stranger. Let me encourage you to express that kindness- you won't regret it.
"Warmed it up for ya."
A shaking, wrinkled hand offered a quarter to me.
"No thanks, it's yours." I smiled and returned my vehicle.
It is amazing how impressed I was with myself! Look at me! What a generous soul, this superhero who was willing to part with his 25 cent deposit! Ridiculous.
It occurs to me that most of the gestures of kindness that are available to me to offer are totally free- they come with no assigned dollar amount. Simply opening a door, listening to another person, smiling, or letting someone go first; these small gifts cost nothing yet so often we refuse to offer them.
At some point in the next ten minutes you will have an opportunity to extend a similar inexpensive kindness to another person, perhaps a total stranger. Let me encourage you to express that kindness- you won't regret it.
Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones . . .
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