It May "Come Back Around" To You

It May “Come Back Around” To You

Bill Brinkworth

Sofia was having one of those really bad days. Her countenance showed clearly that she was not her normal happy self, and Lynn could certainly not let her suffer alone. As she approached her friend, she asked Sofia, “Are you alright?”

At first Sofia nodded she was okay, but the nod quickly turned to a “no” headshake. It was not long until she blurted out her burden.

Lynn just listened, and nodded at the proper time. It was not long until Sofia got her troubles off her mind, after unloading them to her friend. She felt better. Someone cared enough to listen, and she knew she could face her troubles and her day. Off she went to get back into life.

In just a few short days, Sofia noticed the same troubled countenance on her neighbor, Mr. Marvin. She certainly knew what it was like to have to carry a burden all alone, so she kindly asked her neighbor if “all was okay.” Sofia felt that something was seriously wrong in Mr. Marvin’s life.

It was not long until he shared the tragedy he was facing. Sofia felt so bad for him. Quietly she listened, and patted him on the back to comfort him. His sobs, as he told what he was dealing with, finally subsided, as he too felt relieved after sharing his burden. The problem was still there, but it certainly felt better sharing it with someone who cared, and soon he was off to face his day.

Several days later, while sipping his cooling coffee on his lunch break, Mr. Marvin quickly noticed that Martha had lost her smile that she seemed always to have. She was sitting across from him at the table, but she would not look up. “Is everything okay?” he asked, knowing that something was definitely wrong.

Finally, she looked up, and shook her head from side to side. “No. No, it isn’t,” and she proceeded to pour out what had robbed her of her smile.

Mr. Marvin just listened. Sympathy for what she was going through was apparent on his face. He cared. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“No,” she shook her head. She thought for a moment, “You just did”, and eventually after her break was finished, she too felt relieved after sharing what bothered her and was able to continue.

At the end of the day, Martha got into Lynn’s car, whom she had carpooled with for years. Instantly, Martha could tell someone something was wrong from Lynn’s visage. “Had a bad day?” Martha asked.

“Oh, yeah. I had a really, bad day. You won’t believe what …” and she proceeded to tell what transpired that day. As she drove and talked, she felt better. Hearing Martha’s opinion helped Lynn realize that maybe she had taken what was said to her the wrong way. By the time she dropped Martha off at her house, Lynn had a completely different view of what had happened to her that day. It helped to talk it out with someone who cared.

Although the above is a fictitious tale, we would be surprised how our encouraging others can eventually come back around to our benefit. An unselfish attitude toward others can encourage them, and our showing compassion will make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Imagine if Lynn, the first encourager in the story, had selfishly kept to herself. What would have happened if she “didn’t want to get involved?” The whole chain of exhorting and encouraging others would have been broken, and there may not have been a person to support Lynn in her time of need. Sadly, in our increasingly selfish world, when compassion is needed, there is little to be found.

Encourage and uplift another today. When others are “up” and encouraged, there may be someone around you to uplift you when you need it the most.

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” I Peter 3:8-9

"And of some have compassion, making a difference:” Jude 1:22

This article was featured in the The Bible View #466.