How's your day going?

BIBLICAL POINT OF REFERENCE:

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind."

~Hebrews 13:16

I hosted a Girls Night this past weekend, and a lot of ladies from my church here at school came. We celebrated being done with our first week of the semester and just enjoyed each others’ company for a few hours, and it was really nice.

Sometime during this get-together, one of the girls asked me how I was doing; she remembered that I had been dealing with some stomach problems, and was genuinely asking how everything was going and how I was feeling.

I was a bit taken-back at this: not at her questioning, but at the realization that someone other than a family member or my boyfriend was asking me how I was doing, and was actually interested in the answer. It was one of the nicest things someone has said to me in a while, and I don’t even know the girl that well.

Not to try and receive pity from you all, but that’s kind of sad—sad that no one has really asked me how I’m doing in a while. Usually, I just end up babbling to my roommates or other friends about how life is going, which I figure can get annoying if I’m just inserting myself into other people’s lives with no warning. I like making conversation, but even I know I can be too talkative at times.

Somewhere in the last 21 years, I began to think that if I exuded confidence, people might want to hear what I have to say. Despite the fact that even my own parents have pointed out my chatty ways, I still haven’t been able to tone it down a notch and not comment on everything in any conversation. So yeah, it’s surprising to me that someone was asking me to talk about myself. And like I said before, that’s kind of sad.

But you know what isn’t sad? Asking someone you don’t know that well how they are doing. That random act of kindness goes a long way with someone like me—or with anyone for that matter. The girl that asked me that question made my day. And it didn’t take that much to do so.

When was the last time you asked that girl or guy in your class how his or her life was going? When was the last time you asked your roommate(s) if they’re doing okay? We often underestimate the power of being interested in another person’s life, even if for only a couple minutes.

To God, my parents, sisters, and boyfriend: your support and interest in my life doesn’t go unnoticed. In fact, you’re all the reason I know the importance of caring for others around me, even if I don’t know them well and even if they don’t care back.

To the girl that asked me how I was doing, you’re a wonderful human being. Thank you!

To SheCanLaugh readers, I offer you (and myself) a challenge today: Ask someone, anyone, how they’re doing. Ask them how school or their job is going. Ask them about their siblings or their hobbies or even their faith. Ask them and be interested in the answer.

This is how we can show love to someone else. This is how we can start seeing God in others. This is how we can turn someone’s bad day into a good day. This is how we can change the world.

Your Laughing Sister,

Callahan

Check out the BEING GODLY WOMEN quotes page for more inspiration!