HELLO

Recently my family took a vacation to the beautiful area of Lake George, New York.  Stunning views!  One day we took a quick road trip to Lake Placid to see where the Winter Olympics had twice taken place and get a glimpse of some future Olympians.
We weren’t on the road for twenty minutes when I glanced over and I saw something that just made me smile (even more than I was already while enjoying God’s magnificent creation).  I’m not sure if someone put just this simple word up on the mountain to make someone smile, or if it has more words in small print underneath it as some type of advertisement.  Whatever the reasoning it, it gave me a happy heart.
What did I see?  On the lushly, evergreen covered mountain I saw the word “HELLO” in massive white letters.  I wasn’t quick enough to grab my camera, but I had the image already deeply engrained in my memory. This simple word just made my day.
It made me think about how we can do the same with those we pass by in our lives.
Think about it.  Have you ever been walking by whether in an unfamiliar place, or you’re having a down moment, or you even seeing a friend in a car, and someone passing by says (or waves) a simple “Hello”?  Most of the time, that undemanding utterance and/or gesture just puts a smile on your face and in  your heart.
The bible is our “Instruction Book on Life”.  We are instructed to encourage others and treat them with kindness.  Three verses I’d like to share with you are:

• “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”  Proverbs 17:20
•  ^“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,…”  Matthew 7:12

So, remember these verses today, and every day, as you live your life.  I hope you will be the encourager today that someone needs.  I hope you will bring cheerfulness to someone who needs a quick pick-me-up.  I hope that you would want others to help bring a smile to your face when needed, so do the same to others.
“HELLO, HI, HOWDY!!  How are you?”  I hope I’ve helped to put a smile on your face today.
I pray God’s abundant love and blessings for y’all.