Keep your spirit up in difficult times … A light for others – 15 March 2023

One Sunday morning, on the way to church, we made a quick stop at a shop. I was heavily pregnant and at that stage, I started to feel more and more like a hippopotamus. The cashier gave me a compliment. Unfortunately, I can’t remember exactly what she said and I have to confess, I still don’t think my brain has fully recovered. What I can remember is how she made me feel. She brightened my day and I was, simply, in a better mood.

At work, I have a colleague with a wonderful gift of listening. When you talk to her, you can see that she listens to what you say. She pays attention, thinks about it and answers sincerely. She makes you feel like you’re the most important person, like everything you have to say is interesting. After a conversation with her, I feel like I can accomplish anything. What a gift that is, especially in a world where many people are totally self-absorbed and listen to answer, not to hear.

It is actually so inspiring and, sometimes, scary when you think about the impact your words and body language can have on someone else – the way you speak and listen, the things you say. It can make such a big difference in someone’s day or week. You can either motivate or put people down.

American writer, Maya Angelou, once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Let us, therefore, remember to be a light for people wherever we go – not only with our actions, but also with our words and our body language, the little things that we don’t even think about everyday.

The Bible encourages us to be good and to do good things. However, being nice to someone and making them feel good about themselves is not only meaningful, it makes a lasting impact.

Prayer: Father, use me as a light for other people. Help me not only to do good to people, but help me to make them feel good too, so that they can experience your love through me and be encouraged. Amen