PASS IT ON!

Have you ever been treated kindly?

Ever been showed mercy?

Has anyone ever shown you grace?

Did you at any time in your life enjoy help from anybody anywhere under God's sun?

Have you ever been at the receiving end of a pleasant exchange, a selfless act, a loving gesture?

Has someone, anyone ever had your back, been there for you, stood in for you, cleaned up after you, served you, upheld you in prayer, ministered to you?

Did anyone at any time ever bestow on you the gift of compassion, of understanding, of quiet acquiescence?

Have you ever enjoyed the gift of genuine, caring, deep friendship that transcends class, tribe, race, social strata and the like?

Did someone choose to withhold judgement against you when they could have done otherwise?

Has anyone put in a good word for you where it really mattered, even when you were not aware?

Has anyone ever forgiven you for a wrong, a mistake, whatever?

Have you ever had the good fortune of being loved, being welcomed, being accepted, being appreciated?

Have you ever been apologized to by anyone, been asked for forgiveness?

On your life's journey so far, I wonder if anyone has ever given you a cup of water, given you food, nourishment or the like? 

Did anyone ever show you the way when you were lost?   

Have you ever experienced the joy of someone being there for you when you needed it the most?

In your moments of sorrow, was there ever anyone who mourned, grieved and cried with you?

Has anyone ever showed up to celebrate with you when you had a joyous occasion to celebrate?

Has anything of value ever come to you from someone at sometime in your life?

Has someone ever shared something they own with you?

Have you ever had someone shun the limelight and stayed in the background to make sure things went well and that your show did not flop? Someone working behind the scenes for your show?

Has anyone ever freely used their expertise, professional know-how, talent, skill or connections to help you make something good happen?

Have people ever spent and been spent on your account?

Have you ever received a word of encouragement from someone? A pat on the back? Has your input or sacrifice sometime, somewhere ever been gratefully acknowledged by someone? Have the words 'thank you' ever been directed at you?

Has someone assisted you personally at work, at home, on the field, anywhere; lightening your load?

Have you had someone ever do menial jobs for you so you could concentrate on the big issues with success?

Has someone more highly placed than you graciously given you the undeserved privilege of access to them?

Have you ever been the recipient of a warm smile, a brotherly embrace, a reassuring, tight hug? 

For me, my answer to all of the above and so much more is a reverberating, resounding yes, yes oh yes!!!

In my life so far, I have undoubtedly enjoyed the graciousness of the human spirit demonstrated towards me ( and my family) in tearful proportions. And for that I owe a huge debt of gratitude.

I know for sure that if this post was about how many times people have let us down, disappointed us, been rude to us, been ungrateful, cheated us, denied us, abused us, taken advantage of us etc there will be not enough room to contain our comments and likes! 

But no that is not my focus today. We have had enough of that already.

Ok so why am I all up in your personal business today, you may be wondering?

Today, as we stand on the threshold of the last month of the year 2016, I am challenging myself and asking you all to please join me to focus on the benevolence of people towards us.

Let us think back on the one and maybe many incidents that brought joy to our hearts because of someone or some people's kindness and love.

Let us relish and be grateful for the blessings and show of affection bestowed on us by people.

We have been hurt.

Disappointed. 

Stabbed in the back. Treated unfairly and on and on....

Thank God however that our story is not limited to these negative happenings.

There have been good times too. With good people. At different times. In different locations.

So, here is the deal: not only should we reminisce and gloat in the memories of people's acts of largesse towards us, we should also go ahead from today and PASS IT ON!

I am determined to duplicate every act of kindness in my direction in other people's lives.

Pass it on.

Repeat the kind deeds you received in someone else's life.

Pass it on. 

Don't let kindness die with you.

Conversely, be determined TO NEVER REPEAT THE WRONGS METED OUT TO YOU ON OTHERS.

You were treated unfairly, so determine not to do that to others.

You were betrayed and stabbed in the back; make sure you never do that to anyone in life. Never ever!

Pass on the light of life, of love, peace, harmony.

Remember how you felt when you were treated right? Well, make someone else feel that way. DELIBERATELY.

Go out of your way to duplicate in the lives of others ONLY the good that you have enjoyed from other people.

Let evil die with you, but never let good end at your doorstep.

Pass it on...today. Tomorrow . Always...

31 "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

Luke 6:31-34 (The Message Bible).

P.S. Don't forget that every act is a seed and harvest time is coming for every seed sown by others to you and by you to others.