Have you ever noticed how a little thing can make or break your day?
Yesterday was a busy day at the Walk-in Clinic. Patients were packing into the waiting room like the crowds at Wal-Mart on Black Friday. No matter how fast we went, the rooms kept filling up. To top it all off, I wasn’t feeling great. Scratchy throat. A little achy. Just kind of under the weather.
By two o’clock, I was starving. I knew if I didn’t get some food in me soon I wasn’t going to make it through the next 6 hours. I went to the break room and grabbed the container of mixed nuts I always bring with me. I knew after a couple handfuls I’d be ready to go.
Back at my desk I went to put the container down by my keyboard. Unfortunately, it slipped from my hand and hit the floor, scattering nuts in all directions. In dismay I stared at the mess. Now what was I going to do? I didn’t have time for lunch. Those nuts would have gotten me through until I could get a real break. In frustration, I kicked my chair, where a few nuts had landed, sending them spiraling down to join their companions scattered on the floor.
After calming down, with the help of my coworkers I cleaned up the mess, then, feeling a little embarrassed by my behavior, I wearily grabbed another chart and got back to work. The rest of my day was ruined, all because of some spilled nuts.
When I finally got back to my desk I discovered two small bags of mixed nuts sitting on the desktop. Carrie, one of my amazing co-workers, seeing how discouraged I was, had bought them for me with her own money. Suddenly my day looked a whole lot better! That simple act of kindness lifted my spirits and gave me the energy to keep on going.
Ephesians 4:32 reminds us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” Carrie could have shook her head at my little spout of temper and just gone on about her business, but instead she went out of her way to make me feel better. That little act changed my whole attitude!
In this season of giving, let’s look for little things we can do to make another person’s day. A gentle smile, a kind touch, a helping hand. It doesn’t take much, because sometimes the best gift you can give is the smallest gift of all – even just a little bag of nuts.
Merry Christmas and Happy Sabbath!