This morning, when I mentioned that we had to go to the store, my eight year old ran to her bank, pulled out a twenty, and told me that she was going to buy herself something. The money she had received at the end of the school year for good grades was burning a hole in her pocket.
As we were walking into the store, she told her little brother that she might buy him something. As soon as we got to the toys, my little boy screamed with delight over a toy that he really wanted.
My daughter looked at the price…$12.97. She didn’t think twice before she told him that she would get it for him. I told her that she didn’t have to do that because it would take most of her money, but she insisted that she wanted to get it. She looked around, decided on a five dollar Ken Barbie doll for herself, and paid the cashier $19.66.
I was so proud of her. It made me happy to see her do something for someone else.
This evening we had to juggle basketball practice, a job orientation, and a birthday party. We have been trying to do something active each evening, but since we had so much going on, we weren’t able to tonight.
I mentioned to my daughter that she got by without having to exercise tonight. “I did something nice for someone today. That was heart exercise.” She said with a grin.
What a true statement! How much better would this world be if we made “heart exercise” a priority?
If we looked for ways to do something nice for someone each day?
Just a small act of kindness can make a difference; a note, text, coffee, phone call, holding a door open, offering to lend a hand when you see a need.
I love it when my kids teach me an important lesson. And “heart exercise” is crucial to loving like Jesus.
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16
