Show up daily regardless of who is watching

In today’s fast-paced world, getting caught up in our lives and forgetting about those around us can be easy. We may become focused on our own goals, needs, and desires for great success and, in doing so, forget to extend kindness to others. However, it’s important to remember that kindness is a fundamental human trait that can profoundly impact the lives of those around us. Whether we are aware of it or not, our actions can have a ripple effect, and the kindness we show to others can inspire them to do the same.

It’s easy to be kind when we know others are watching. We may open doors for strangers, smile at passersby, or compliment a coworker. However, it’s important to remember that genuine kindness is not about seeking recognition or praise. It’s about being honest and authentic in our interactions, even when no one is watching.

However, being kind to others is easier said than done, especially when the act of kindness requires extraordinary commitment from us, like volunteering in a church group to support a food drive initiative that provides free groceries to the community and to those who don’t have any. Or volunteering for other church activities, such as owning a prayer segment that starts very early in the morning to assist and provides prayers to those who need special prayer.

Sometimes, commitments like the above can quickly become a burden to us. We found out further down the road that volunteering is hard work. It requires that we sacrifice our valuable hours and time for others. It requires that we offer our leisure time, and sometimes may even need our financial sacrifices by requiring our financial contributions. 

After assessing all the “drawbacks” of volunteering or desperately needed kindness, many of us quickly turn a blind eye to the need and walk away. It is just too much to bear having to sacrifice so much, especially to people who will never be able to pay us back or will not be able to give us favors when we need them. If this is not possible, we will quickly pass on the opportunity and let others do it, especially when we seek to know who will thank us or return the favor to us later. At least a simple thank you when volunteering must be nice to get from time to time. Nevertheless, we know that rarely volunteering ever gets anyone a “thank you” from anyone, so why bother? Seriously, we can park over there and watch. It is better to watch from afar, and we may be the ones to thank the others. Yes, what about that? No need to help. We can thank others instead. That is good enough.

However, this past week, I witnessed a great act of kindness that struck me and taught me that kindness is greatly needed and that we may need to rethink the whole strategy of turning a blind eye and realize that it is okay to sacrifice without ever getting a thank you note from anyone. It is okay to sacrifice greatly without ever getting any favor or anything in return. It is okay to add our financial contribution consistently even when no one is watching because our actions may save someone’s life. The beneficiary of our kindness may be the only person we may have saved our entire life or after our many years of volunteering and contributing. Still, that one life will be impacted positively forever.

I witnessed a brother praying with a stranger who desperately needed prayer at a critical time. Had that brother not been present that day at that exact time, this stranger would have ventured out elsewhere, and God knows what would have happened. This stranger walked into a church that morning needing prayers and encouragement. This stranger desperately needed some emotional support because he felt lost and down that morning. The brother prayed with the gentleman, who stated that the brother saved his life by being there and praying a special prayer for him. The gentleman said the brother was an angel from heaven, sent to save his life that morning.

After listening to the gentleman’s statement, I was brought to tears, and I started thinking about the brother who prayed for this gentleman. This brother has been consistently the first to show up at church. He usually spends hours by himself praying, and most of us will show up hours later for the church service. Barely anyone will come to request a prayer, yet this brother never made any excuses to show up every Sunday. I would have been in his shoes. I would cut myself some slacks some days because I would tell myself, what was the point of showing up? I would be by myself the whole time anyway, so let me get a couple more hours of sleep in. Yet this brother never thought this way. He showed up every Sunday and on time without skipping a beat, without ever getting tired that no one showed up to participate in the prayer sessions. And that day, he was at the right place, at the right time to pray for someone who desperately needed it. I thought this was powerful.

This brother showed up every Sunday regardless of who was watching or if someone thanked him. One of the most powerful things about kindness like this is that it can be contagious. When we show kindness to others, we inspire them to do the same. We create a ripple effect that can spread far beyond the immediate interaction. This is especially important in today’s world, where negativity and division seem to be rampant. By choosing to be kind, we can be a beacon of hope and positivity in a world that desperately needs it. I’m sure the gentleman will never forget what the brother did for him.

What does it mean to show up daily? It means committing to showing kindness to others consistently and taking consistent action toward them every day, no matter how small or insignificant the action may seem. It means putting in the effort even when we don’t feel like it, even when we’re tired, and even when we’re discouraged. It means showing up for ourselves, and others, every single day.

It’s important to remember that kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, offering a smile to a stranger, or giving a compliment to a coworker. These small acts of kindness can have a big impact, and they don’t go unnoticed. Even if no one is watching, the person on the receiving end of our kindness will remember it, and it may just be the thing that brightens their day or changes them forever for the better.

Being kind to others is a fundamental human trait that can have a profound impact on the lives of those around us. We should make a habit of being kind, even when no one is watching. When we do so, we create a ripple effect of positivity and hope that can spread far beyond the immediate interaction. So, let’s make a conscious effort to be kind to others, and let’s inspire those around us to do the same. Finally, showing up daily, regardless of who is watching, helps us to stay focused on our journey. It’s easy to get caught up in what other people are doing and compare ourselves to them. But when we show up daily, we’re reminding ourselves that our journey is unique and that we’re not doing it for anyone else but ourselves. Let us show up daily, regardless of who is watching.