A real estate client pointed out to me in a conversation recently about the world. She said, "Gary, you know there really are a lot of people out there in pain. And if you are one of those with a light to help them out, you need to not hide it under the proverbial bushel basket, but share it with them." It so reminded me of the Christmas time movie, It's a Wonderful Life. I see the world quite opposite from the way others see it often which makes me feel a little strange inside but that's who I am.
First off, I never thought of that movie as a Christmas movie. It ended up at Christmas in the final stages of the movie and it was a perfect setting for the outpouring of love that inevitably settled upon character George Bailey by friends and townfolk. But I always saw the story as a case in life of "Lumpy Love."
Here was George Bailey helping out everyone throughout his life. Keeping them in their homes. Not being too hard with them on late payments on their mortgages. Couldn't we use a little of that old Building and Loan forgiveness in today's housing market?
But in the end it was all about George planting seeds of kindness and love along his journey with it seeming like no one ever cared about George. When George finally got himself into a pickle with a missing $8,000 and the looming disgrace of going to jail for embezzlement, his world crumbled around him. No friend whom he helped along the way "seemed" to be there for him. But that's when the lumpy love kicked in and all the people who loved him all along came out of the woodwork to his rescue.
I've concluded in planting seeds of kindness and love in the world we must follow the theme of these well known verses:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
I hope with this post my client knows I am not keeping my light under a bushel basket.
We must plant our seeds into the soil of the world, whether it is fertile or rocky or filled with weeds and that is our best.
And every time you hear a bell ring, an angel gets his wings.
Maybe that angel is
YOU !!!
Comments(24)