Dwelling in Hope

When we are having our worst days, it is so easy to sink into our struggles and rest in that. We need to feel our emotions, acknowledge them and work through them, but don’t stay in the darkness and drown in it. I have been there, and I can assure you once you start focusing on others and spreading some joy your hope and faith will increase. It just takes a little action, and then the domino effect goes in order – joy multiplies!

Also, you will find when you go out of your way to spread some joy, it’ll make you feel better. 

   🙂   Be the joy you want to see.

   🙂  Be intentional.

   🙂  Be spontaneous.

   🙂 Make it simple.

  🙂  No matter how small the act, rest, assure, it will make an impact.

I started my joyful journey by getting a packet of post-it notes and writing out on each one some inspiring messages. I kept them on me and when I was out in random locations (Restaurant, Cafe, Library, Church, grocery store, etc.) I put a post-it note up to be left behind for people as encouragement. I did this for about two weeks and then it started to get into my head that it was a silly concept. I thought it really wasn’t having an impact. I went back to the café where I had previously put a post-it note up on the mirror in the bathroom. I put my order in at the counter and I went into the bathroom to put up another post-it note. While I was walking to the bathroom, I was talking to God in my head saying this is so silly. Why am I wasting my time putting these post-it notes up everywhere? It doesn’t really mean anything. When I opened up the door, I saw the mirror where I placed one post-it note to discover many post-it notes were now up by my original with inspirational quotes and sayings on them. I literally laughed out loud and teared up – clearly God was showing me no act is too small to make an impact and encourage others to spread joy. I had known this to be true in the past, but my Father knew I needed some encouragement, and He is always so faithful and on time. I shared this story with several of my friends, and they started sprinkling joy and sent pictures to me of their acts of encouragement.

Would you like to join me in spreading some “acts of joy” that are simple, fast but impactful? I have some suggestions below:

  🙂Post-It Notes with inspirational messages left in public areas.

  🙂Say thank you.

  🙂Use a person’s name.

  🙂Touch : handshake, hug, pat on back, fist bump,etc. ( lost during COVID)

  🙂Catch someone doing something right and point it out.

  🙂Bump up a tip if you can afford to and write an encouraging note on the bill.

  🙂Complimenting someone on their talents, attributes, outfit, service, etc.

  🙂Offer compassion when someone makes a mistake.

  🙂 Fill out a customer service survey – usually only done when people are angry.

  🙂Pay it forward, whatever you can afford to do so.

  🙂Hold the door open in a public place greet people as they come in and out.

  🙂Write a note to someone thanking them for their service (Teacher, Pastor, Package Deliverer, Waste Collector, Mail Deliverer, Grocery Clerk, Pharmacist, etc.)

  🙂Drop off treats to a police station, fire station, emergency room, doctors’ office, post office, or anywhere where you think they serve and maybe go unnoticed.

  🙂 Eye contact and Smile (important for those who aren’t typically seen (i.e.) homeless, those who may be struggling with shame or mental health, employees in fast paced service environments, people who feel they will be judged by us (eye contact & a smile does not mean we condone their choices it means we love them like Jesus).

Perhaps you have some ideas of your own on how you can love others like Jesus in simple ways and sprinkle some joy and watch it grow?

Therefore, let us not just love with our words but with our actions as well. 1 John 3:18