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Maundy Thursday, March 21, 2024 Reach Out, You Might Bless Someone Scripture: Job 29:24 (NIV) – “When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.” Message: Have you ever wondered if it is worth the effort to reach out to strangers and sincerely say, “Have a great day”, or “Have a blessed day”, or “Make it a blessed day”? This morning as I rode my bike through Eatonville, I received many reminders of how important it is to reach out, without expecting a reaction from everyone you pass. I need to accept an obvious snub, a guttural grunt or a typical earbud induced trance, not as a personal rejection but as a challenge. Because they are a grump, I don’t need to quit smiling. People need to be encouraged all day, every day. The size and scope of my greeting is not important. It is the size of my smile and the sincerity in my voice that matters. For example, today in a single, short block, I was greeted by a Mom, her daughter, her grandson, their dogs, and an “about to be” Dad who wanted to thank me for praying for his pregnant wife. Several days ago we were all strangers. A smile and “Hello” made the difference. Are you lonesome and perhaps grumpy? Try a smile and maybe add a “Have a blessed day” to a stranger and mean it. If they respond – great! If not, give the next stranger another sincere try. If you have ever been a sales representative, you will know that it takes seven to nine “Nos” to make a sale. It might take longer to get a pleasant response, but remember smiles are free so give a lot of them away. Jesus loves us and we need to let others know how His love has changed our lives. Incidentally, if “Have a blessed day” is tough to say, a simple, “Have a nice day” will suffice. As an aside, over the years in Eatonville I’ve gotten to know the ex-mayor, Chief of Police, a State Trooper, to Sheriff Deputies and eleven residents simply by smiling and saying, “Have a blessed day.” This makes the smiles worth it. I think it makes God smile also. Prayer: Lord, remind us every day that there are many people we meet that desperately need a smile, a word of encouragement, or a simple acknowledgement of their existence. They might even see Jesus in our greeting. Amen. Bill Erdman |
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