TINY LOVE, LASTING IMPACT

Well hello there dear gist partner. 

WELCOME TO OCTOBER! How are you doing? How is October looking for you? Here’s hoping that you walk with God through the month. 

Welcome to today’s gist. 

For years now, I’ve been using Benue Links Ltd, the Benue State Government owned transport company, for majority of my travels and there is something that I have noticed that warms my heart every time I think about it and I thought to share. As part of their policy, whenever 2 Benue Links vehicles meet themselves on the way, they would honk at each other in solidarity as they pass each other on the road. I’ve witnessed more than one driver perk up after such a meeting; sometimes it’s a slight straightening in their previously lagging posture, sometimes it’s renewed vigour that translates in increased speed, sometimes it’s little chuckles and small comments made especially when they know the driver in the other vehicle. Every time I experience this and see the change in a driver after this ‘random’ meeting with another, I am reminded just how important encouragement is to us as individuals and as Christians in our journey. 

Too many times, we’re so focused on our journeys and struggles that we fail to see others and their own challenges. No, I’m not blaming you; life is hard, everything seems engineered to make life difficult and miserable for us, and in trying to just survive and get by, there is the very great temptation to become so focused on ourselves that we fail to see others and in failing to see others, we do not realize that we can be of help to them, and how we can be of help to them. 

When I talk about encouraging others and giving them help, it may not be something grand and big; it could be a heartfelt smile, a warm handshake, a warm hug, your ears to listen, good conversation, silent, or maybe loud, prayers, a word of encouragement, your calm soothing presence… a lot of “little” things that you can do which may not seem like much but will go a long way in making people feel seen, and impacting them positively as they continue on their own journeys. Like these Benue Links drivers, your journeys may be going in different directions, your paths may never cross again but the impact from your ‘chance’ encounter may be enough to help them stay on course in their journey, and even if you never get to know how much impact you have made, God knows and Heaven has taken record. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (ESV) This means that the act of being an encouragement to others is continuous, there’s no quota to be filled after which you stop, you continue to be a source of help to people as God places them in your path. Like that Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37, when you see a need, step out of yourself, reach out to that person and, for however brief the time you have with them is, impact them positively, let them feel loved and helped because they met you. 

Step out of yourself. 

And to you my dear gist partner, I may not know the challenges that you’re going through, but I want you to know that I see you, I love you, and God will help you through this, please turn to Him. And if you need to talk, please send me a message at achenyosmusings@gmail.com and I’ll talk with you. 

May God help us to help the people He places around us. 

TUNES AND THOUGHTS: our song recommendation for this week is ‘There is a king in you’ by Donald Lawrence. This song is a reminder that you are such an important person, you may be going through the most trying of circumstances but I want you to remember that you are royalty, so walk like who you are; in  every circumstance, remember who you are and refuse to let your situation change your perception of who you are, instead respond to your situation like the royalty you are. I pray this song blesses your heart. 

Audiomack: https://audiomack.com/donald-lawrence-co/song/there-is-a-king-in-you-9115073?share-user-id=140072136 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2tXiYbYOFDUig0FNlI45ML?si=bLlth8olQfeXm_fEx1IOyg 

YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ofR4Pcql8oo&si=Fts6X7QgWVFcuHaB 

Well, that is that about that as far as that is concerned, see you next week!

Love,

Achenyo.

PS. I am still trying to figure out what to do about replying to comments, please bear with me as I try to figure it out, I’ll reply as soon as I’m able. Thanks and God bless.