What Would You Want to Pay Forward?

 The idea of paying it forward - spreading the joy of a good deed, even if it's just a smile or friendly comment or joke - was really popular a number of years ago. This post will be one of several about that.

 

And, it speaks of a really silly joke my grandpa often made - one which, being in the title, may have caused you to skip this post. It seems he would tell us - and my mom and uncle - growing up that certain foods made hair grow between your toes.

 

"What a silly idea," you are probably saying. This is something my grandpa always said when trying to get us to try a new food. That it grows hair between your toes.

You might know someone like a good friend's dad - he would say it grows hair on your chest. Grandpa liked to be unique, though.

I liked to share that when we had Club with Youthquake. Fun info or experiences seem more special when you can pass them on. That's what I love about the fact I could share that. And, I might share other silly or fun stuff once in a while here, too.

Now, one kid in our group asked what I never thought to, "why would I want hair between my toes?" I think in some ways she understood, though, just like with my corny jokes and trying too hard to help and so on. It was just part of showing I cared. And, that I had a wonderful family that I felt like sharing a part of with those kids. Without coming out and saying how great it was, just in case some felt bad because they didn't have that.In fact, the possibility some didn't gave me even more reason to do it.

Nobody I know really has hair between their toes. I doubt any of you would want hair between your toes. I'm giggling right now as I write this, in fact.

Whether it's that or something else, there is something special about being able to share fun experiences. Some people do that online just by posting pictures of their food - whether or not they believe it will grow hair between their toes. :-) Whether sharing food or the fond memory of hearing such a funny ting, there is one thing it all has in common.

Joyful relationships

 

 We all want joy in our lives. True joy comes from inside - happiness is based on circumstances, but joy is a decision. It may be harder to find joy in some things. Enjoying the beauty of nature might at least help if you're shoveling snow, but even that's not possible while taking a math test. Still, at least the satisfaction of doing your best can come from both.

The right types of relationships should help increase our joy. That may seem like it goes against what I just said. How can a relationship increase something that should come from inside? But, think about a diamond. It looks pretty on its own. But, when light shines on it, that light makes it sparkle, right? Its brilliance is magnified.

 

Or, for those who don't care about jewelry, think about a great athlete. They've always got the strength, power, speed, etc..But, what really brings it out? It's the competition. That speedy receiver will probably run faster when he's dashing toward the end zone with a big guy chasing him, right? Or, at least they put their game face on to pretend that while practicing.

I could go off on a few tangents here. It's not the topic of this post, but you might think of one tangent  right away. We focus so much on boyfriends and girlfriends, but there are so many breakups they can leave us depressed unless we: 1. Focus on other, longer lasting relationships as well (friends, family); and, 2. Ignore all the boyfriend/girlfriend talk and develop friendships till we are sure that the one we are close to *might* be a potential mate. Then we are at least looking for the right thing, instead of just trying to please ourselves.

 

And, if it doesn't work out, it'll be much less awkward and you can still be friends. Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Wells went with a woman, Clara, for a while and, when it didn't work out, he gave his best friend - Hall of Famer James "Cool Papa" Bell - permission and even encouraged him to go with her. Bell and Clara were married over 50 years, and Bell and Wells remained very good friends.

That would have nothing to do with food growing hair between your toes, though. So, I'm sure you know that isn't the topic of this post, right? :-)

The joy of sharing

I've always loved learning. Part of it was that I don't always get nonverbal cues and found conversation a bit tricky, so I wanted to make sure I could participate well or at least know the right questions to ask. However, there was another reason.

Whenever I'm sharing something, I feel like I'm giving something special to someone. I'm helping them a little. It's not always vital information. Sometimes it's just to make someone smile or distract them from something they don't like, such as the food example. I get joy out of sharing things. I don't know if my main love language is something along those lines or not. I only know that I appreciate all the help and support people give me with my handicaps, and I want others to feel the same kind of love.

It just feels more special when I can share things. I don't have to tell everyone where the stuff came from. Having Youthquake in my home the last few months before our director died was fun enough just letting kids see the of the old stuff I'd gotten from my great uncle's/great grandma's house, or using a bench I used as a kid, or something like that. It made having that stuff seem more fun, more worthwhile. I may have never had the money to adopt, though after lots of prayer I sense God assuring me I have a child in Heaven. But, I've been able to share things with someone.

Some people share thigns for other reasons. Maybe they want people to notice them, or  maybe they hint at thigns so people will ask them questions. Either way, it's a fun thing,  building relationships. It's the kind of thing that we need to do more of, rather than attacking each other.

We all have stories in our lives, but things we'd like to share. Maybe your home wasn't as good growing up. If that's the case, you still have something to share, I hope. And, even if not, you can always adopt others' ideas as your own. There's sure to be someone out there willing to be the Godly mother, father, sibling, or whatever that you never knew.

There's a part of me that hopes someday someone else is trying to get their kid or someone to eat food by saying it grows hair between your toes. It'll mean that something fun like that has been passed down further. But, it''ll also mean that the same fun thing will be able to be used to brign a smile to smeone's face. A person who may not have had much to smile about. But, because you're a friend, or loving parent, or whatever, you chose to increase someone's joy. To build them up, and not tear them down.

It doesn't have to be that particular thing. but, it shas to be something that will help others feel the same kind of love.

The greatest relationship of all

In Philippians 2:2, under the inspiration of God, Paul writes, "Fulfill ye my joy..." He had shown others God's love and salvation, and hoped that the joy he felt would be full both by the people there following Jesus, and also by them sharing that love with others.

That's why I emphasized at first that following Jesus isn't a religion. It's a relationship.

We focus so muh on what we can get in life. Sure, I said we can get some satisfaction out of sharing thigns ourselves. But, when we do that we are also giving. Sharing a funny story or something that will perhaps give someone courage or help in getting through a problem.

That's what giving should be. Not because it will help us get something, but because we want to give, pure and simple. JEsus, after all, went to the cross to die for our sins and rise from the dead while we were yet sinners(Rom. 5:8), before we even knew Him.

 

As I noted, He will give you that help you need - Ps. 27:10 says "When my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will take me up." He is willing to fill in all the holes in your heart, all the gaps in your life, if you just trust Him to. He may not be able to change a bad relationship you have now - but He might, it just takes someone being willing to turn to HIm for help. But, He will bring people into your life as you trust Him who will provide the help that you need. Even if it's with something as silly and simple as saying stuff grows hair beetwen your toes.

And, the wonderful thign is, you can be that special someone for somebody else, too. You might be just what others need to help them overcome. Or, you might be the one who needs that help, needs someone to take them under their wing. Either way, trust God to bring the right people into your life. He cares about you more than you can imagine.