... it was your warm smile 

that eased the unspoken anxiety of a young mom.

... it was your reassuring voice 

that enabled a dad to swallow the burgeoning lump in his throat.

... it was your direct eye contact 

that silenced the deafening voice of self-condemnation in a parent.

... it was your sacrifice of time 

that allowed for a single mom to experience a long-overdue release of pent-up emotions

as she wept on your shoulder.

... it was your unshakable confidence 

that empowered a child to face the giant of fear... and win.

... it was your patient endurance 

that infused your co-worker with resolve to try again.

... it was your unapologetic clarity 

that freed legal guardians, tangled in a myriad of emotions, to make the wisest decision.

... it was your winsome joy 

that made a frequent flyer feel "at home" away from home.

... it was your genuine authenticity 

that dismantled walls built by a scared teenager too proud to open up.

... it was your tender compassion 

that reassured a foster couple that they have what it takes for the journey ahead.

... it was your humble vulnerability 

that inspired a peer to courageously pursue a deeper level of transparency.

... it was your deep love 

that preserved the dignity of an embarrassed patient. 

... it was your relentless resilience 

that modeled what it means “to keep the main thing the main thing."

...it was your unwavering hope 

that upheld parents reeling from unexpected news of a life-altering diagnosis.

…ultimately, it was you being you 

that has made all the difference in the world.

It has been a joy to watch those who, at times, have wondered whether their presence has made any impact at all, experience the love of El Roi - the God who sees - as they have read this poem. How cool is that?

I pray that as you have read this blog, a loud "Yes!" is stirring in your heart in response to the Spirit's invitation to "say what you see." Would you watch and see what God is doing around you? While you may not be prompted to write and to share prose, would you be open to saying a quick word to someone as you pass them in the hallway? Why not leave a post-it note on their desk? Perhaps you can shoot a quick email off to them. Maybe it is not an accident that you meet that person at the time clock! You might even hit up the greeting card section in the grocery store and stock up on a couple of encouragement cards. Tap into the limitless creativity of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, "Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out... spurring each other on" (Hebrews 10:25 MSG). Watch and see what God will do!

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