Hi, Hey, Hello- such simple words. But so powerful.
Hello- the start to a conversation. The word that can begin any relationship. One of the first words we learn as a child. Sometimes the only word we can think of when we’ve lost all other words, we can always rely on the constant of hello. It doesn’t matter if we can’t understand the language I bet we can all say hi and understand one another.
It’s almost always looked over. We want to get to the actual conversation, the hello sometimes seems silly. We hold our tongue from saying hi to many people we pass throughout our days. “They seem busy.” “They don’t want to talk to me.” “I don’t really know them that well.” SO WHAT- it’s most likely not true. People want to be SEEN and they love to be ACKNOWLEDGED. And maybe they are busy, or don’t want to talk, or are complete strangers, but a simple hello can really touch a person. It might not be in that very moment but your words hold more weight than you think.
Both here in Honduras and last month in Belize we walk a lot, A LOT. On our walks we pass lots of locals. Sometimes they look really focused on their job at hand whether it’s, taking groceries home, doing yard work, washing laundry, selling jewelry, or on their own personal mission of some sort. It’s easy to walk right by them because you don’t know them, you’ll most likely never see them again, or they’ll only laugh at the way you pronounce hola or bueñas like a gringa.
But as I’ve been on these walks, I’ve began to say hi, hola, bueñas to each person. Whether they make eye contact or not, as we pass I send out a simple hey. And it has never failed. No matter what they are doing when they realize somebody sees them they look up and smile, and when I say smile I mean they BEAM. I have a light in me that I want to share and they see that.
It honestly makes my day. I get so much joy out of seeing them crack a smile from a hello. That’s all I have to say. I don’t have to cake anything on top of it. And if a conversation starts up, great, if not, then I let them know they are seen and they can hold onto that.
Sharing the love of God does not have to be this great, big job that only a select few are capable of. We ALL have all that we need to be the light to the people around us. We have the joy of Christ. And Christ has put you in the path of people today, tomorrow and all the days to come that you can share his love with. I can’t touch all the people you all see and work with and pass everyday and you aren’t all going to come walk the same dirt roads of Honduras like I am.
So BE THE LIGHT in your community. Say hello. Next time instead of staring at your phone to avoid all eye contact, LOOK UP. There are people all around you begging to be seen and heard.
And if you are reading this and you feel like you are the person who isn’t seen or heard, the Lord sees you. He is watching you and cares so deeply for you. And so do I. I pray over all my followers and that each person who reads my blogs will be touched in some way or another. Whether or not you feel this way, I want to share my prayer for y’all today.
Maybe this prayer is for you, or maybe it’s for someone you know and want to share it with:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for never letting go. Though we stray and wander, you are always right there. Thank you for each individual reading the words you have given me. I pray they are filled with your joy, and peace and fullness of you. May you dwell in their heart so that troubles of this world do not bring them down but they know their security is in you. Your love for us is beyond measure. I pray they are each overflowed with love today. May they open their eyes to you. This world brings so much pain and suffering, so I pray they are not consumed with the worries of the world but only you. I pray that they each feel seen and heard. I know this season is hard for many and I ask that when they feel the ache in their hearts they only seek you and no temporary “fixes” of the world. Nothing is stronger than your love for each of us. Thank you for all the people you have placed in our lives so that they can see your light in us. I pray we say more hellos this week.
Amen
Love y’all!
Kyn
