Good Monday morning...

 

… and as a recipient of a large package of birthday cards, personally signed by many members of the church, I would like to say thank you to each sender, but especially to the person who collected all those signatures, “Thank you Cheryl.”

Cheryl has been tracking birthdays or special occasions and giving the church opportunities to send a card.  Her ministry has touched so many lives, and as a recent recipient, it really is a boost to read each card and to receive the blessing.  No one asked Cheryl to do this, she had just done what she believed was the right thing to do!  This is the type of thing that is encouraged in The Bible, using the gifts you’ve been given to bless others.

So often the encouragement of “when you see something say something” is taken to mean “report bad behavior.”  Today I’m reporting good behavior!  People that come into worship and then stay to make our collection reports which are taken to the bank and sent to our bookkeeper or stay to return the clubhouse to a “better than we found it” condition for the community, happen each Sunday, thank you!

Let’s build on the reporting of good behavior.  Expressing gratitude to the people we see doing good in the world, saying thank you to one another when appropriate (I remember when that was just good manners)!  If you see something, say something… to anyone doing good.  It’s OK to create an awkward moment, to catch someone off guard when you express gratitude for their small act of kindness you witnessed.

I’m not suggesting that we should ignore bad behavior.  Reporting bad behavior has led to justice in many situations, and that is a good thing.  However, we can increase the good vibe of simple acts of kindness when we acknowledge the good behavior, out loud and in person.  The ability to observe and discern good behavior is a gift we probably all have.  Let’s use it!

One final note, to those who are bent toward finding bad behavior.  Thank you for being a voice for good by pointing out the bad.  Jesus taught that this is also the right thing to do when done the right way.  If someone has committed a wrong go to that person and try to win them over.  If that doesn’t work, take one or two others with you and seek their repentance.  If that doesn’t work, take it to the authorities.  Ultimately, Jesus was teaching us to seek the well-being of others, even those who do us wrong.

If you see something say something is a good prompt for prayer, too!

For His glory,

Pastor Mike