About 8 months ago driving to work I noticed this older gentlemen sitting on the porch of a yellow house. The next day he was sitting in the same spot. So the day after that, I waved at him. Everyday that I drove to work he was sitting on the porch, he would see the white car and stand up to wave at me. Well, in December the car broke down and I was staying with people on campus to get back and forth to work. So I didn't see the man in the yellow house for about 2 months. I bought my car in February and would see him off and on. The past couple of days on my way to work I have seen him. He is there, waiting on me. He sees my car and stands up, smiles really big and waves. He is there sometimes after work too.
I never thought a simple wave could make someone smile so big or affect someone. But, I see him day after day on my way to work, which is funny because I think he knows that I am late everyday because he is there about 8:13 every morning when I drive by (I have to be at work at 8). Who knew that being faithful to wave at someone a few times could give the waver and the wave such happiness and joy. Even on a bad day if I see him and I wave, it just about turns my mood around because I am doing something that is not about me. many thoughts have run through my head about stopping in the afternoons to talk to him just to say "hey I am the girl that waves" and be able to witness to him. Yet, something stops me. Maybe it is myself, maybe not. But seeing him out there this morning on my way to work just gave me such a leap for joy.
To be honest if I were to have run into this man at Wal-Mart or some other place before I would have started my waving I probably would have just ignored him. But this whole thing has taught me that I tend to do exactly what scripture says not to. So, yes, I am a hypocrite. James 2 talks about the rich man and the poor man. It makes us ask ourselves the question do we love the rich because of how well they present themselves and do we not love the poor because they look dirty or have many needs? I look at this man and when I first started waving I had no emotion one way or the other. The more I see him the more I want to know how I can help him but I haven't helped him and don't even know how. ...now I am rambling anyway.
Go wave, smile, greet someone you don't know. ... ok, be smart about it though.
Really encouraging, Bailey. It is amazing how just making eye contact and smiling at a stranger in the check out line or any other random place, makes such a difference.
ReplyDeleteWhat's fun is when that person glances at you, you smile, they look away and then quickly realize, 'Hey that person just smiled at me!' haha. Sad that we live in a day in age when smiling catches us off guard.
I hope that someday you and your friend have a chance to meet.