Love The Person In Front Of You

Love the Person in Front of You

The LORD said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day.”

Exodus 16:4

I love social media. It has become an easy way for me to reconnect with family members and friends who don’t live close by, allowing me to still feel like I am a part of their lives. It has allowed me to rekindle relationships with old friends and given me a sense of community.

But there is also a side to social media that I find ugly. Opinionated posts, unkind comments, and banter about who is “right” in all aspects of life can sometimes leave me feeling a little overwhelmed. Sometimes I just don’t know what to do with all of the information that is constantly streaming my way.

One morning, feeling like it was all a bit too much, I shut down all my devices and opened my Bible. I read about how God fed the Israelites and asked that they take only what they needed for that day—not worrying about tomorrow, but believing that God would continue to give them what they needed each day. I sat and thought about my schedule, shutting out everything else, and prayed, What is most important for me to do today? I felt like the answer was simply for me to love whomever was in front of me, right in that moment. If it was my child in front of me, I needed to stop and show them love. My husband over dinner: love. The person at the checkout counter: love. My coworker in the morning: love. I’ve come to realize that not worrying about tomorrow but simply focusing on who is in front of me today can shift my focus and help me remember that smaller and simpler is sometimes better. Just like he did for the Israelites, God will rain down his bread from heaven, giving me just what I need for this day.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Instead of allowing yourself to feel overwhelmed by the world’s problems, think about who is right in front of you. Focus on showing those people some extra love and kindness.