Be the Change

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, “I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:31-40

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (NIV)

I rose with a considerably pleasant disposition today. The decision was made I am going to bless everyone I encounter, to start the new year off with good deeds. It was no concern to me how the kindnesses were going to be released. As I travel through the day, I planned to see what materialized.

Sadly, my giving was largely done out of obligation, which I now call “emotional blackmail.” I assumed because someone was my friend, colleague, church member, or family it was my responsibility to support everyone when they required it. Who was I, GOD?

I repeatedly scouted for an acknowledgment, a wave. Any source of gratitude would have done wonderfully. There was not a peep of one’s teeth that proved my sacrifice produced a smile. The fact is, once you make a habit of giving to able-bodied individuals you are handicapping, constraining, and hindering their battles, which is required to grow.

Lawd knows I have my proportion of hurdles to get over. So, I considered the fact that there was no one helping me, celebrating me, or inviting me to the celebrations I helped them to accomplish. They did not because that was not what I was in their life for. They became entitled to the fruits I have grown and the spoils of my labor.

The instructions are “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6.

I repeatedly heard that you must live your life as your eulogy. Now, eyes wide open, I get it. What would be said about my life? What legacy would be left behind? Would the thought of me bring smiles? Will strangers remember the soul of a good person? God says to me, “well done my good and faithful servant. Or will I be a shattered life that let the world use me up to a shallow grave?

I walked out of my decision to purposefully be a blessing. The first place I stopped was at McDonald’s. I noticed a blue van in my rearview mirror. I hear something in me/ spirit say. “Pay for their meal.” I get to the window where I purchased myself an Ice Caramel coffee, which is the norm for me to order. I tell the cashier that I would like to pay for the person behind me.

As I delivered those words, I prayed for I did not know how many people were in that Van. LOL!. I told myself it was Okay; we are making today great. The clerk gave me the total of $8.72 and I sighed a relief. Now, was this a selfless act? Of course not. I could bet the change in my pocket that I smiled harder than the benefactor of me paying it forward.

Simply flashing a smile at everyone I passed may have changed their narrative for the day. I was rolling more compliments than one would roll in a dice game. Imagine that—all you need to do is activate a few muscles and you can make someone happy. You can’t beat that with a baseball bat.

I notice a man lying down in the back of a garbage bin. I boldly approached him and asked how he was doing. He responded he had better days. I enquired did he know of shelters that could help him. He says that the shelters he knew of were full at the moment.

Full disclosure I am the Founder and Managing Board Member of Silent Rescue. And Yes, I have resources as I journey through the day. However, today it was about expanding the mission and broadening my personal brand. He received a blanket, food, and essentials. I converse with him about life until we both grew tired. I was both inspired and in wonderment by his story.

At the grocery store, I invited someone to go ahead of me in line. I had many more items than they had in their basket. They thanked me before they checked out and gave a. “God Bless You.” as they exited the store. I was in wonderment at how miniature deeds provoked gratefulness to the recipients.

After my doctor’s appointment, I was walking at a brisk pace behind a lady, simply because I walk fast by nature. She plummeted to the ground; my eyes follow, she recovered some cash someone left behind and I rejoiced with her. I did not give the blessing yet I was overjoyed to be a witness to it.

“You must have deserved that money,” I expressed gleefully.

“People are always so unpleasant to me.” The stranger announced earnestly. I picked up the cue and let her use my shoulder to express herself for a moment. I offered her my constructive two cents, and she smiled with her newfound fortune.

On my path home, I notice a lady at a bus stop. The woman showed to be down and out, but we do not judge books by their cover so, I approached her delicately something did not rest well in my spirit with her disposition.

I hear my inner voice/spirit say. “Give her your change in the car.” I maintain a substantial sum of loose change inside an elephant coin pouch.

“What’s your name?” I inquired.

“Lolita.” She squinted her eyes to ward off the ray of the sunlight.

“I mean no disrespect or judgment, but I would like to give you this,” I explained as I passed her the elephant coin pouch.

“Why, would you just give me something?” Lolita was undoubtedly skeptical.

“Honestly, today I decided to bless people I stumbled upon today and you are an individual I happened upon. I know it is weird, but it is me offering you my heart.”

Lolita laughed loud and boisterously. I perceived she was a southern girl straight away.

“I was pleading with God to assign me, someone, to show me kindness. My way of life has been booting me in the backside. And he found me valuable enough to send an angel. I don’t know how much change this is, but I could tell by the weight it is higher than the difference I lack to pay for a night’s stay at the cheap motel down the road."

I hopped back in my car to discover the change had poured out of the purse. I gathered it up and handed it to her. Her smile grew enormous and my heart mounted higher with enjoyment.

Who’d have dreamed that change would make a change?