never underestimate...

You've probably heard it said before, that you should never underestimate the impact you could have on another person's life. Well, you're going to read it here tonight.

Never underestimate the impact you could have on another person's life. We would do well to recall that our impacts can be positive or negative; hopefully that recollection will help us to be mindful of doing good. I've always thought it was funny how these things worked. We don't even have to know someone to make a difference in their life, to make God's love real for them. A smile, a kind word, a simple "hello" can mean more than we know. Of course, there are those who impact us in a more extended way, through their love, friendship, guidance, whatever it may be. Their actions in our lives are indeed the actions of God, leading us to become the people He has called us to be.

There have been so many "impactful" people in my life. Some did indeed have a hurtful impact on my life, and those aren't pleasant, but they are what they are. I hope that at the least, I have learned something from them, even if it's a lesson in how not to treat someone else. There have been many more who left a positive mark, and I am grateful for them, and the blessings that have come to me through them. Those people are my family, my friends, and others whom I have barely known. Without them, I might not have had the courage to do some of the things I have had to do; without their encouragement, there are things I might not have had the confidence to accomplish; without their guidance, I might have lost my path; without their love, I might have lost sight of the love of God. I hope that the person I am today, and the person I will grow to be tomorrow, reflects that good that has been given to me. I further hope that, even in a small way, I can repay some of those blessings by making a difference in someone else's life.

"Paying it forward" should be paramount for all of us.

 +Peace, and all good!