It’s always great when we have an opportunity to get together with family over a great meal. At least once a year, our family tries to find a way to get together so that we can laugh and just simply enjoy the company of one another. One particular year, my family decided to have a Thanksgiving gathering in the country at my grandparents house in Alabama. Growing up, I used to complain about the lack of activities available there but as an adult I’ve grown to love these visits.
Each family member was assigned a dish to bring so that our meal would be complete. From turkey to vegetarian macaroni and cheese we had it all. Yes, half of my family is vegan or vegetarian so family gatherings are always fun. After everyone had finished eating we talked, played games, watched football, and laughed. Monopoly was a game I remember playing that year because one of my younger cousins dominated the game. Future businessman 🙂 After wrapping up the board game and getting ready to leave I started to feel a little weird. Before my family was able to make it to the hotel I was extremely nauseous and knew that either one of the dishes somehow became contaminated or I had just caught a bug.
After calling family members and discovering that I wasn’t the only one sick we found out that one of our baby cousins had the stomach flu before our gathering and spread it to us. I literally think that was the worst sickness I experienced in my life. That bug was a beast, no lie! Thank God it didn’t last more than three days. I was surprised that something so powerful could be transmitted by a little baby though. Once I got back home I started thinking how awesome it would be if we as Christians had that same kind of impact in the world. Imagine what it would look like if we were as effective in spreading the gospel like that stomach bug spread. Like think about it…what if the people we came in contact with on a daily basis were so impacted by the power that resides within us simply because they interacted with us. The same power that rose Christ from the dead lives within us and trust me, that power is way stronger than that stomach bug. Catching the stomach bug was not fun at all but I like to make lemonade out of lemons and found a pretty cool lesson in the midst of everything. Each of us have spheres of influence. It could be your family, job, school, or another group. The question is how contagious are you? What kind of impact are you making with the influence you have? Are people being pointed toward Christ? I want to encourage you to be an ambassador for Christ and to love others the way God loves you…unconditionally. God’s Word says in John 13:34-35:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
As you go throughout the day, be mindful of the impact you are making. You have the opportunity to change peoples lives and be a light for Christ simply by the way you live your everyday life. Who are you influencing?