Extreme excitement on top of sheer disbelief at his new personal mound of candy — the photo of my nephew from more than a decade ago always makes me smile.
Receiving the gift of so many tasty treats definitely made him beam, and knowing they were the result of his hard work left him with a sense of pride.
Subscribe to The Alabama Baptist today!
SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.
The look on his face not only reminds me to appreciate the special moments we get to have with family and friends but also to take time to invest in others along the journey.
Helping stuff those pumpkin buckets to the rim will certainly add a sparkle to the little ones’ eyes. Sharing a smile and commending their costume adds an extra layer of encouragement for both the child and parent.
If only we could find a way to share something sweet — even if simply a kind word — every day with everyone who crossed our paths.
Of course, it would need to be genuine to be effective. Authenticity carries a lot of weight, while an insincere act can hurt more than help.
What it comes down to
It really comes down to giving Jesus full control of our hearts and lives and letting Him shine through us.
We’ll still have difficult days, and we may sometimes experience feelings of discouragement, frustration, disappointment or even anger, but even in those moments we can maintain a loving spirit.
The third verse of the hymn “They’ll Know We Are Christians” says, “We will work with each other; we will work side by side … And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.”
The hymn is based on John 13:35, which says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
A quick search for how many Scripture verses specifically focus on how we should love one another will pull up more than 30 options.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This editorial was written by Jennifer Davis Rash, president and editor-in-chief of TAB Media Group, for her Rashional Thoughts column and will appear in the October 30 edition of The Alabama Baptist newspaper. To subscribe, click here.
Share with others: