What are you spreading?

Quote:

“Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one

ever come to you without leaving happier.”

~Mother Teresa

Scripture:

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

~Ephesians 4:32

Perspective:

We are living in a season of uncertainty right now, a time when it is easy to not only feel fear but also to spread it, certainly a season for the history books.  The reality is, all we can do is our personal best to not add to the problem, to seek to be part of the solution; we are not solely in control of the solution in this situation and so life feels unpredictable and out of control.  However, things, both good and bad, are always being spread in our home, throughout our community, in our workplace, our country, and in our world.  What is in your heart and mind continuously does spread from your tongue and through your attitude.  This crisis is making it obvious to all that what we choose to do, and not to do, affects not only our self but also ripples out and affects many more people than we might have thought possible.  What are you spreading?

I have heard so many people throughout my lifetime complain about not only specific people in their life but also people in general.  If each one of us does not take the time and make the effort to look within and take responsibility for our own actions, that will not change.  People will live their life feeling like humanity is just not good.  We do have a sin-nature that dates back to the beginning of the human race, but we do have control over how we choose to personally behave each and every day.  Have you ever had to teach one of your children to act selfishly?  To lie?  To gossip?  To feel jealous because they don’t have something they want that a friend has?  To argue or talk back?  To act in a spiteful manner when they have been hurt in some way?  Those behaviors come naturally; unfortunately, we must learn NOT to behave in those ways, and often we must remind our self not to act in those ways as adults.  If the nine fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control came naturally, what a different world we would live in! 

We must pray for and recommit daily to focusing on these fruits growing in our life despite what anyone else is doing.  What we feed, grows.  Take, “well everyone (he/she/they) is doing it,” out of your vocabulary and put your focus on YOU, the only one you can control!  What can YOU do today to not only make your life better, to begin to change your own heart and mind, but also to be a light in this world, to make the world a better place?  It will take mindful effort on each of our parts to do so.  It is so very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day business of normal life and feel like we do not have time to spread joy in the world but that is just not true, it is a mindset, a way of life that takes very little extra time once it is a habit to do so.

It may take a little extra time and effort in the beginning, while you work to change your mindset and habits, but once that is done, it becomes part of your nature, of who you are, it becomes a part of your everyday behavior! 

• When you wake up, remind yourself that it is a new day and you CAN have a new and better mindset than yesterday.  Remember, how you think is how you feel, is how you act, is how you think! 
• Before your feet hit the floor, pray to God for His strength in order to be committed to opening your eyes and your ears, your heart and your mind, to allowing the fruits of the Spirit to grow in and through you.
• Use reminders to help you remember your commitment throughout the day, whether it be Post-it Notes where you will see them, an alarm(s), a screen saver, or whatever else will help you to remember, be creative!
• When those around you are negative or gossip, interject with something positive they can think and talk about instead if they so choose.  Focus on being the light, on being the one who spreads positivity and joy, who finds and focuses on the good in everyone and in all situations.
• If you need to make amends with someone, do so!  Don’t wait for an apology, instead be the first to give one for your part.
• If you want to do something fun, reach out to others; don’t wait for an invitation and then feel bad when you don’t get one, give an invitation.  Too many people wait, be different!
• Smile at people you pass; hold the door for the person behind you; offer to help someone who is struggling; give compliments freely;  give a dollar whenever you are asked to donate at the checkout or to someone on a street corner.  Those dollars do not add up to much throughout the month, but mean the world to those they are given to.
• Give an hour of your time each week to help those in need, doing so makes you feel good and takes your mind off of your own struggles; check in on someone who is sick or recovering, even if it is just a text; send someone a birthday card or even just a card to say you are thinking about them, unfortunately, technology has reduced the frequency of receiving those beloved cards and letters…go the extra mile and send one!
• Seek to be a light in this troubled world; spread joy, kindness, and positivity everywhere you go, be an example to others, remember that you are an ambassador for God, take that job seriously!
• Make a goal to simply be kind for kindness sake, expecting nothing in return but rather just enjoying planting seeds of kindness that will grow!   

Life Application:

> What would you say and do differently if Jesus walked by your side wherever you went?  Sometimes we forget that if we have excepted Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is in us all the time.  What can you do today to ensure you spread love, joy, and hope wherever you go and to whomever you encounter?  Don’t worry about tomorrow and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing…what can YOU do TODAY?