This is the story of my great day, and how it unfolded. Sunday morning I went to the bank kiosk to make a deposit. If you don't know what a bank kiosk is, its basically an ATM machine with a glass room built around it. When I went there I really didn't give it a second thought, but once I actually stepped inside I realized this seemingly innocuous place was truly an extension of hell. No air flow. Glass building. Tennessee in June. You do the math! As soon as I walked in the air was sucked from my lungs and my skin turned to dust. I realized in an instant that place must be where God sends you to test if you truly have the will to live, or if He should just take you now. The good news is, I made it out.
Now that you know where this story takes place, let me introduce you to the main character. It was me, and I promise you that I looked like a HOT MESS. I was wearing a baseball cap, and I hadn't brushed my hair since my shower the night before. As a result, my hair was doing that thing it does where it is neither straight nor curly. It just kind of wigs out. For clothes, I had on my lounge wear. (AKA, I went out in the equivalent of my pajamas!) I was also wearing my favorite necklace and earrings that I basically live in these days. I did stop to put on eye makeup before I left the house because even though I knew I would not see anyone in this tiny little bank kiosk, I don't even want to see myself in that ATM mirror without my eye makeup on. Whatever. It's fine.
So, I went into the bank kiosk and what happened? Well, another pour soul joined me in God's testing ground. I felt instant dread because she was not blind, and I was not prepared to be seen. I was in my pajamas for Pete's sake! And do you know what said when she looked at me? "I love your earrings!"
Guys. This random kindness absolutely made a, "Cha Ching", deposit in my happiness bank! We were both in an uncomfortable, if not poorly designed, place. But rather than just be grumpy about it, she said something nice to me. Rather than focus on all the hot mess swirling around me she picked out the one thing that wasn't visually offensive. I don't know her, and she could be a murderer. A compliment from a murderer probably doesn't mean much, but in my heart she is not a killer. She is a loving wife and mother just living the dream like me. They were just $5 earrings, but in that moment they were a part of me, and so it was my compliment.
I went home feeling like a million bucks. I putzed around for a little while doing laundry and other glamorous undertakings, and then got in the shower. Whilst in the shower I decided to shave my legs. Now what you must know about me is that this is not a daily occurrence. I almost have to know about a scheduled event before I shave my legs, but this particular day I thought someone with such cute earrings as I have should have smooth legs. I got out of the shower, and honest to God you guys, I put a workout video on the TV and worked out. I don't love working out, but my legs were shaved, and now that they were all smooth and pretty, I may as well work on making them look better. Then after my workout it was about lunch time, and I went into the kitchen and I fixed myself a healthy lunch. I had some chicken salad with lettuce to scoop it up with, and a big glass of water. I could have had swiss cake rolls with a side of Kraft Mac N Cheese because both were also in the house, but I made a choice to do good for myself. And as I did my dishes from lunch I thought about how I was on this incredible roll today, and I realized it really did all start with that stranger complimenting my earrings!
One act of kindness from one stranger set my day off on a positive note.
We have so much power! Our words can heal, can encourage, can motive, and can inspire!
So my word to you today is just this. Do better than just not being mean to people. Do good. Be kind. Be happy, and let others watch. Be the smile in a frowning world. Be authentically YOU, but don't stop the good that is in you from blessing the people around you because you are too quiet, too shy, too busy minding your own business. People need what you have! You could be the reason someone, maybe even someone you don't know at all, has a great day.
