Paying It Forward

We live in a selfish society. I hate that that is the case. I like to believe that people really do care about others....but I know that is just the romanticism talking. We're a "me first" society--hence why blog commenting is down, but that is not the point of this post ;-)

I try to be a person that enjoys making other people happy. I don't know if it has to do with my personality type. Or if it is just because I love giving gifts. Or maybe I just prefer seeing smiles over frowns. All I know is that one of the ways I show love is by giving gifts to people. When I say that I could care less about getting one in return, I mean that with one hundred percent sincerity.

Recently, I had the opportunity to bless a little girl who had adenoid, tonsil, and ear tube removal surgery. She's a little girl who has captured my heart in my ways that I cannot even begin to describe. Well, when her mom told me that her daughter struggles with panic attacks, and going to the hospital was intensifying them, I remembered back to a time in my past and a time when someone blessed me. I was ten years old and about to have surgery to reset my broken arm that was breaking through the skin (yeah, it wasn't a pretty sight.) I was the girl who asked all of the doctors that I encountered if I would wake up from the anesthesia and while all of them said I would, there wasn't one that made me feel better. (They also didn't look like McSteamy, but I digress)

But then, one of my Sunday School teachers came by and brought me this little stuffed bunny rabbit. It was a little thing and yet, it made me feel better. I felt loved and the stuffed animal reminded me of home. Even though prayers helped, having this little thing made a difference for my scared mind. I guess it was subconsciously, but I filed away in my mind doing such a thing someday. And twelve years later, I was given that opportunity.

I got this little girl an adorable tiger and brought a smile to her face this Sunday. I also made her mother bawl her eyes out. I tried to tell her that I was just "paying it forward" and wanting to show the Lord's love to her....but I'm not sure if she picked up on that. I do know, though, that it made me so happy to see them so happy. That's all the gratitude and "tooting of my own horn" that I need.

I don't share this story to make y'all praise me. I want to give y'all some food for thought. We can bring about small changes by our actions. Look for opportunities to pay it forward. Do something that brings a smile to one's face. Trust me, it will bring a smile to yours.