PHILIPPIANS 3:17

“Join together in following my example brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”

TO PONDER 

Does anyone remember that movie “Pay it Forward” where a teacher gave his students an assignment to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action.  A young boy, created a plan for “paying forward” favours, which at the time not only helped his single mother who had been struggling, but he set in motion an unprecedented wave of human kindness.  Unbeknown to him, it blossomed and spread around the globe.  Those that received a favour did a favour for three others and so on.  An act of kindness, of sharing and giving.  It showed just how things can be changed by a little forethought. 

An experience I had when I was living, working, and volunteering in Vietnam, was when I was invited to speak to a group of expat ladies about an orphanage where I spent all my free time (over 4 of the 5 years) when I was not teaching.  This orphanage was for Special Needs Children and housed something like 396 children at one time.  I could never speak about the children without the emotion coming to the fore.  As there were different rooms, some of the more mobile children were in the “gang room” and of course, I had my favourites in there, who filled a special place in my heart. When I was talking about the orphanage or the children, my opening statement would always be, you need to go with an open heart and an open mind.  Some of the ladies had visited Phu My but found it too heartbreaking.  It was either a love or hate situation.  

During the morning tea that followed I got to speak to a few of them, and one, a lovely lady called Theone, a Lutheran, was there with her husband. They were travelling back to Australia not long after that meeting.  They were only going for a few weeks and would be back.  She asked was there anything I’d like brought back …  by that time, I was hanging out for an “Australian” lamb chop that would not cost me half a month’s income at the local expat deli.  So jokingly, I said an Australian lamb chop … little did I think I would get that chop … instead I got four, Cryovac packed, beautiful chops, which I could then share with another Australian friend.  To me, it was a miracle, Theeone ‘paid it forward’ and hence I got the opportunity to do the same.  Thankyou Theone, it is something that I have never forgotten and was one of the highlights of my time in Vietnam.  Little things like this can be a real bonus and blessing to others, who do not voice how they are feeling or what they are going through, especially those in a foreign country on their own doing what the Father has sent them to do.  Remember Him. 

This miracle in my life from a little act of kindness went a long way.  Just a small example in my life, out of the 10,000 REASONS FOR HONOURING THE PAST . If we take the time to remember every day the miracles in our own lives, whether small or big, we will see the goodness of God working all the time through others, even when we doubt.   

PRAYER: Lord, we know you are a miracle working God and we need to learn to really thank you for what you’ve done and for what you are still doing.  Thank you Lord.  Please help me to see how I have been so blessed during my journey through life and help me be bold in paying that blessing forward to others, that they might know you more. AMEN

Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock (Danny's mum)