Speak it, live it, be it.

Have you ever met people, became friends or acquaintances, then they pop in and out of your life at random times?  Have you ever had an individual come into your life who breathed life into you right when you needed it?  Or do you know someone that drops a note just to say “Hey!  How’s life?”, “What’s life teaching you?”, or just writes you a little note of encouragement?

All too often we go through life on our own schedules, strict time frames, with a tunnel-vision focus looking mostly on the end, sight, or goal, and missing the beautiful in-between time… times where WE have an opportunity to breath life into someone!

Breathing life.  I don’t know about you, but dropping a message to a friend, sending an encouraging note, taking the time to write a hand written note, telling someone they look nice, stopping to talk to a stranger or acquaintance, picking up the phone to call a loved one or friend, all seem to be things that are not happening as often in today’s society as they used to.  Really think about it, when was the last time we’ve done any one of these things?

What’s happened to the world we now live in?  Why aren’t we speaking and telling someone, “You look nice today!” when they do?  Why aren’t we taking the time out of our schedules and lives to make time to communicate with other people?  Honestly, how hard is it to pick up the phone to send a message or text?  Why aren’t we showing up in our everyday lives to do these important interactions with the people we are rubbing shoulders with in our everyday lives?  Why aren’t we breathing life into other people, encouraging them, listening and being present as they speak?  Thought provoking questions for each of us to ponder.

Years ago, back when I was a teenager, I had older women in my life (mother and grandmother figures) that were breathing life into me; communicating and teaching me some of life important aspects that aren’t taught in a school system.  These women dropped hand written notes in the mail, stopped by to visit our family, taking time to talk with both of my parents, my brother, and I.   Some individuals mailed gifts, much to my surprise, for no occasion!  And others invited our family over for impromptu games of Hand-and-Foot or board-games with heaping bowls of popcorn, laughter, and love!

As a young person, I took notice to what these women (and couples) were doing!  I always made sure to say, “Thank you!”  As the years went by, their random acts of kindness came and went spontaneously in my/our family’s’ lives.  When I became a young adult I’d come to the full realization that I started doing what I had learned from these special women.  I learned to breathe life into others, blessing them just as I’d been blessed.  I was speaking it, living it, and now I’d become it.

Maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of my sending you a random “Hey, how’s life?” note.  Maybe we have had conversations here and there.  Maybe we see one another only a few times a year.  Maybe we have impromptu run-ins in our local community.  Doesn’t matter!  Here’s the point, I have some questions for us to ponder together.  (I’m not talking myself up.  I’m not trying to impress you.  I’m being real with you as I’ve always been and will continue to be.)  My questions are:  Why aren’t we taking the time and the opportunities to breathe life into people?  Do we have to have a reason to reach out and say “Hey!”?  NO!  And that’s just it, that’s what confuses people.  Somehow in today’s society we seem to think that because someone contacts you they want something from you.  What if the individual doesn’t truly want anything from you?  What if by them asking and taking time out of their they were simply letting you know that they actually care enough about YOU, that they are taking the time to say, “Hey, how’s life?”  What if they genuinely want to hear how your day was, both the good and the bad?  What if they are breathing life into you in a way that you don’t even realize is completely pure and innocent, filled with genuine love?  And what if they are breathing life into you just when you need it most?

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves.  Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8

Simply put, love never fails.  Love does.  We have ample opportunity each and everyday to speak love and life into others.  We can live our lives filled with life and love despite life’s many curve-balls, challenges, and continuous growth opportunities.  We can be an individual speaking, living, and being love to everyone we meet, cross paths with, and interact with.  Are we each willing to do more of this in our everyday life?  I would surely hope so, because love does.

Each and every day we have opportunities to reach out to people and breathe life into them, love them, show them that we care about them, and to encourage them.  It’s easy to become so caught up in our schedules, work, and our routines that we loose sight of some of the most important aspects in life!  Can we speak, live, and be this kind of individual to others?  I believe so.  We never know who’s life we may touch, or the affect that we may on have on them by simply speaking, living and being life and love.  I hope and pray that you are speaking, showing and being love to all people you meet.  It’s time.  Let’s each go forth and be love!