Every Interaction Matters

This has been heavy on my heart lately.  My motivation for writing stems from thinking about the interactions school personnel have with students each day.

But the reality is, we all have personal interactions with various people throughout our day and week—interactions that are often far more significant than we realize.

Adults in schools don’t just interact with students; they also have countless connections with other adults in the school setting.  This truth extends far beyond schools to the everyday moments we share with people in all walks of life.

Think about it:

* A quick conversation with the cashier at the grocery store or the young man carrying your bags to the car.
* Your waitress during a date night dinner.
* The ticket taker or the concession stand worker at a basketball game.

These seemingly small moments are everywhere.  Your life is filled with opportunities to interact with a variety of people in a variety of situations.

And here’s the thing:  Every single one of those interactions matters.

It’s important to pause and consider what might be happening in someone else’s life. Too often, we expect people to behave or respond in a way we’ve decided is “appropriate.”  But what if they don’t?
Could it be because they’re carrying a burden we can’t see?

What if:

* A spouse just received a life-altering diagnosis that will require a new normal?
* A student’s parents are going through a divorce?
* A child doesn’t have enough food at home to last the weekend?
* A co-worker is grappling with a parent entering hospice care?
* A student is feeling crushed by a parent’s anger over their playing time in sports?
* A teenager just learned that their first relationship is ending?

So many things happen in people’s lives that we’ll never know about unless we take the time to notice, to care, and to dig deeper.

Scripture calls us to be mindful of this. Galatians 6:2 reminds us:  “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

What a beautiful challenge—to fulfill Christ’s law of love by helping others carry the weight of what they’re going through.

Are we truly tuning in to the people we interact with?  Or are we simply expecting them to manage life and treat us the way we think we deserve to be treated?

Let’s approach all of our interactions with grace and patience.  Be someone’s best hope on a difficult day.  Take the time to care.  Ask a question, offer a kind word, or just show understanding.

Because everyone is carrying something, and sometimes, the smallest act of compassion can make all the difference.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.