This is going to be a short post...I think. I was going through my day today and started to think about how people have affected me and my life. There are always people coming and going in our lives. Other than family there is no one who is a set piece for sure in your life forever...and in some families there is no security.
My family is large, we are close (in relationship, not miles) and I know they will always be there for me. They have done a lot to help me become who I am today, but they weren't the only ones involved.
I know I have talked about my friends in the past. I have talked about the people who are new in my life and who reached out to me when at that point I hadn't given them reason to reach out. I wasn't thinking about them today. Today I was thinking about the people who have stepped out of my life. Not in a bad way and not even always on purpose, we just went different directions. Some of the people who have meant a lot to me didn't seem to know how much of an impact they really had.
It makes me wonder what role they thought they played in my life and what thought they gave it, if any, before they stepped out of that roll. Also, who did I just walk away from that I didn't know I was affecting?
I was not concerned about myself really...my thoughts went to others. My life is about helping people and I want to make sure I am doing that to the best of my ability. So I thought about those who are around me that I may not think I am close to. Am I having the positive impact I want to have on even casual friends?
When I transfered schools as a sophomore in high school there was a senior that I met during my first week of football. He had no real reason to reach out to me other than we played the same position. He helped me fit it and made me feel comfortable right away. I sent him one message on facebook thanking him...but I don't know if he even really remembered me. It had been 10 years since I talked to him. He passed away and I don't think he will know the impact he had on my life until we meet again in Heaven.
I want to make sure that I am showing love to the people who I meet when it doesn't seem like it would matter. I want you the reader to take time to smile, hold a door, be nice to the new guy. You just never know the impact you are having on the lives around you and I don't think you ever will.
Just make sure that you love people. Other than loving God I don't see anything that matters more than that.
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