Is a Smile too Much to Offer?

"Mom, you didn't have to be so rude to that guy," Joy exclaimed to her mother.

"You know that's my pet peeve," Cheri answered defensively.

But Joy's accusation echoed in Cheri's head as they walked through the mall. She had to admit that she acted the same way each time a person with a clipboard and a questionnaire walked over to her. The interruption annoyed her. Sometimes she was approached three or four times.

Cheri began feeling guilty. Joy was right she realized. The young man who asked if they had time to answer a few questions did not deserve her inconsiderate response. A little kindness would have been in order. She easily could have smiled and said, "No, I'm sorry. Not today." Instead, she had ignored him by turning her head and brushed past him in a hurry.

Cheri thought, "What if Jesus had reacted that way to people who approached Him?" He was the opposite. In fact, He often initiated conversation.

Jesus said that whatever we do "for one of the least of these...you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Perhaps the "least" could represent those who seem the least important in our eyes at the moment. The price to be kind is never too high when we consider the reward of joy received at having been kind to Christ himself.

Thank You, Jesus, that whether our deed is large or small, You notice.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12 NLT).