Last week I titled my Monday
Message “It’s a Feeling - Part I”. I’m
writing it in two parts because the concept is just a little hard to explain in
one short page. So let me see if I can finish the explanation.
In last week’s message I gave
an example of one of my employees caring about a fellow employee and made the
statement, “If we truly care about
others and take the time to stop, look and listen with our hearts, people will
feel the love in our hearts and in turn feel good about themselves!” So let me
add to that statement, “People may forget
what you say and what you do, but they will always remember how you make them
feel!
Here is another real life example
that happened two weeks ago. I went
to visit some customers at a large corporation and after the business part of
the meeting was over, I had an opportunity to share a story about my faith with
two of the people there. My story must have touched one of them, because afterwards
he showed me a simple black bracelet on his wrist with the words, “I Am
Second” on it, an expression of his faith that God always comes first.
I thought the bracelet was really cool and said so. Later that week, when I
arrived at my office I found a simple black “I Am Second” bracelet
laying on my desk, a gift from a new found friend, who took the time to listen
to me. Boy, did that make me feel good!
But the story doesn’t end
there… and it shouldn’t because I need to pay it forward. Last week I was in a huge hurry to pick up some
groceries for my wife who was hosting a party that evening. I literally ran
through the store and even paid cash to hurry things along. After I tossed the
groceries into my truck, I ran the grocery cart over to the cart storage area
and noticed a young lady standing there who works for Ralphs. She took my cart
from me but was staring at my arm. She blurted out, “That’s a cool bracelet!
What does it say?” By her appearance and her difficulty with speech it was
obvious that she was slightly disabled, but she had this really sincere smile.
So even though I was running late I stopped and showed her the bracelet and
explained the meaning to her. Her smile got even bigger and she said proudly, “I
know all about God and he’s good! Can I have one?” Her question took me by
surprise but it made me stop and think. I answered. “Yes of course you can.” I
asked her what her name was (Cally) and explained to her that I would bring her
one in a few days.
Perhaps Cally was surprised
that a stranger took time to talk with her and answer her question, but hopefully
it made her feel good and realize that she truly is important. I don’t know for sure how she felt but I do know she
was smiling when I left and guess what….so was I! I may have been late for the
party but I learned something really important, putting someone else first
before yourself is the same thing as putting God first!
Truly I tell
you, whatever you do for one of the least
of these brothers and sisters of
mine, you do for me.
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