A Contributor of Joy

Over the past week social media has been flooded with tributes to Stephen “tWitch” Boss after his sudden death. When someone so young passes away, the shocking loss may cause some to look at their own lives differently. When that sudden death is the result of a suicide, that same loss forces us to take a look at how our actions can effect the lives of others.

I’ve seen several posts in recent days sharing the Suicide Prevention Hotline number. I’ve seen others detailing other resources for individuals suffering with depression. After such a high profile loss everyone’s awareness is heightened. Everyone’s empathy becomes a little stronger.

However, in the days to come – ESPECIALLY during this busy time of the year, we’ll all get distracted. Most of us will get sucked into the busyness of this holiday season. We’ll be rushing from gathering to gathering. We’ll have gifts to buy and gifts to wrap. We’ll have meals to make and family to visit. We’ll have last minute trips to the store and final errands to run. I hate to say this, but…….the next two weeks are going to fly by, and 2023 is going to be here in no time.

Some may read that list of things and think, “Good Lord. Just reading all of those things exhausts me.” I guess that is one way to look at it. I’d like to look at it a different way.

A couple of weeks ago in church, Father George asked the following question of the congregation during his homily:

“What can you do TODAY to contribute to someone else’s joy?”

Simple question, right? Smile. Offer a compliment. Hold a door open. Pay for the person’s coffee in line behind you. The list goes on and on. There are SO MANY different ways that we can spread joy to others. How about a not-so-simple question…..

“Over the next two weeks, how often are we actually going to take the time to do one of those things?”

The next couple of weeks are going to bring with them their own set of challenges, but do you know what else they are going to bring with them? So many different opportunities to show kindness to so many people. I truly believe that every act of kindness – whether big or small – has a ripple effect. We may never fully realize how a simple act of kindness on our part can effect the life of someone else. Maybe a compliment can pull someone out of a self-deprecating thought. Maybe a phone call to a friend we haven’t spoken to in a while will bring them a moment of joy in an otherwise dark day. Maybe a random act of kindness can inspire a stranger to do the same for someone else.

What may seem like an insignificant action to us may do more good than we could ever realize. Over the next couple of weeks, let’s try and keep Father George’s question at the forefront of our minds. A small contribution of joy may end up saving the life of someone else.