We live in a world of the media and others telling us to “treat yo self” and “put yourself first.” We as individuals crave attention from others. We crave praise from others. We crave admiration. We crave recognition. But why?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently, and I’ve been thinking a lot about acts of kindness. I try to make an effort to perform at least one random act of kindness once a week, and reach out to someone in need at least weekly. I try to make an effort to make the act of kindness anonymous, but at times that’s hard to do. It’s so easy to receive recognition from acts of kindness, which I don’t think there’s anything wrong with, however, there can be something wrong with performing that act of kindness just to receive that recognition.
It’s so easy to fall into that trap. To do things so someone will praise or recognize us. To post that one photo on social media JUST so we can receive fifty comments and two hundred likes. To do something so someone will see it and praise us.
But what happened to doing things for others, out of the goodness of our hearts? What happened to reaching out to someone because THEY need us, not because WE need them? What happened to putting anyone and everyone BEFORE ourselves, instead of putting ourselves before others? What happened to giving praise and thanksgiving to the One who created us, rather than accepting all of the praise and recognition ourselves?
Friends, I challenge you. I challenge you to perform an act of kindness. I challenge you to make someone’s day better, even if it means them not knowing you did it. I challenge you to do something for someone just because you know they need it, even if you don’t need it. I challenge you to text a friend this week you know may be going through a hard time. I challenge you to spend time with someone, instead of treating yourself. I challenge you to give credit to our Creator for the talents and opportunities you have been given.
Look around. We have been given so much in this world, even on the days it’s hard to see. Show that light to another soul, and be that light to them.
xoxo
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