I couldn’t find our stash of birthday candles, so a small tea light had to suffice. And then the wind kept blowing out the solitary candle. The end result, though, was good — actually, better than good!
Our neighbor’s wife was out of the country. We wanted to make him feel special on his birthday, in spite of her absence. The four of us enjoy occasionally going out to eat together. Her English is excellent, and even though he understands English well, his ability to communicate is limited. We definitely know what that’s like — how awkward it can be trying to follow and then respond to a conversation in a second language.
And so we axed the idea of taking him out to dinner and came up with the birthday muffin idea instead. An idea that, according to the video we made in the car park of us singing Happy Birthday and giving him the mufin, ended up taking 54 seconds.
After sending his wife the video, she responded with the above text message, which shows how those 54 seconds brought joy. Made her husband feel special. Remembered. Not forgotten.
We live in such a fast-paced world. A world in which it’s easy to feel forgotten. Overlooked. A world that more quickly points out negativity than celebrates good. A world that too often has forgotten to be civil. Kind. Thoughtful.
Do not withhold good
from the Wisdom Literature of the Bible, Proverbs 3: 27
from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power
to do it.
I first came across this verse as a young Christ-follower in university. I was new at applying God’s Word to my life — after all, if it really is true, then it should make a difference in what I say and do, right?!
One way I thought I could apply this was to be intentional in looking for ways to come alongside people to encourage them — to “not withhold good” but rather to say something to build them up. To acknowledge how something they said or did impacted me. To look beyond their countenance to their heart — and let them know they ARE seen. Heard. Valued. Even doing little things — like our 54 seconds birthday celebration — can make a difference.
Too often we — I — miss opportunities to make others feel special, to feel worthy simply because we think it may take too much time or effort. In an era where we have instant everything, isn’t it a bit ironic that we often “don’t have time” to even send a text message? Or is it that we get too busy with our own lives that we fail to see those around us?
Whatever the case, I want to counteract such thinking! And I invite you to join me in looking for ways to encourage others. To come alongside and communicate worth and value to those who may be feeling invisible, misunderstood, insignificant. As we do so, I’m confident we will have increased joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”
Joy in the Journey 