Are you a thoughtful person? If so, you will love today. It’s National Thoughtful Day, an opportunity to put your intuitive kindness to the test. The day recognizes those simple, thoughtful gestures that brighten someone else’s day. This doesn’t have to be anything big. It’s just simple things that mean a lot.
When I was a kid mowing yards, some days were like we had last month – brutally hot! Mom would show up in the middle of the yard with a glass of ice water or lemonade. That sure made a difference when the temperatures were in the upper 90s. Whenever my wife is home while I’m mowing, she will often do the same thing if the days are especially hot. How thoughtful of you!
Speaking of my wife, she is a shopper extraordinaire! She can sniff out a deal like a bloodhound. Most of what she finds has something to do with others. She has keyed in to what others like and her radar activates when she finds it. How thoughtful of you!
Some of you send cards of encouragement to others. The random card in the mail with something encouraging handwritten does so much to make others feel like someone cares. It’s just a card! you might say. But that little gesture conveys a lot of love, especially to those who are lonely, hurting, or feeling isolated. How thoughtful of you!
Opening a door for someone, offering to help them carry their bags when you see them struggling, offering to run errands for a person already swamped and busy, saving them a trip when you are going to the same place or being willing to go out of your way, bringing a small hostess gift to a party, saying “let me help you” and rushing to meet the need – all of these things and many more are kindnesses often overlooked. When someone does these things for us, we easily respond, “How thoughtful of you!”
To be a thoughtful person means that you puts the needs of others ahead of your own. This is a Biblical action to take. Philippians 2:2-4 says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Admittedly, some seem more thoughtful than others. Thoughtfulness oozes from their
pores. We could say that those people are more empathetic, easily sensing the needs of others. While that may be true and some definitely seem to be gifted in this area, we can all do better by following the example set by Jesus.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) Paul uses these verses to show the depth that thoughtfulness should go.
What Jesus did for us by coming to this earth, dying on the cross, arising from the dead, and offering salvation was more than just thoughtful. It was absolutely necessary. Jesus saw our need in eternity past and was ready and willing to be that perfect sacrifice when the “fulness of the time” was come. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Set out today to practice Romans 15:2. “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”
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