Little Differences – Devotion 121 – SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

The weather has been so stifling hot this summer. It seems to be way more humid with higher temperatures than I remember. I’m sure it is just my perspective because I am living in the middle of it. I will probably say the same thing next year when the summer heat bakes the earth. But it is really so very hot. So when it cools down just a few degrees, it is amazing what a difference it makes. The morning temperatures actually fall below 70 and it is as if I have walked into a new dimension. What would have been warm before is now a welcome coolness. When coming from the summer’s oven, the mildness of the morning is so refreshing.

The interesting part for me is that the temperatures are not drastically different. It is more that we have gotten accustomed to the extreme heat and humidity for quite a while. We have an expectation that it will remain this hot for what seems like forever. When we are surprised by a few degree drop, we are thrilled. It is as if we can breathe again.

We are in a time of such division and chaos. We go through these cycles. People are more vocal and it seems that we do not always let the best of ourselves shine. We hear division on the news, we see it on TV, we read about it – we are filled with the difficulties of transition in our world. It can become almost a norm that we expect. So when there are small differences, it seems to make a huge impact. When someone is kind, it really shines through. When someone helps another, it means so much. When someone even smiles and says thank you, we are surprised.

So why don’t we surprise someone with kindness today? Why don’t we go out of the norm and help someone else? Why don’t we make a little change that could make a big difference? We could be the exception that really does brighten the day. And we could do it simply because we are loved by an amazing God that is with us every day. The little differences can make huge impacts. Be the difference.

Focus Scripture:

John 13:34-35

³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”