It Just Takes One

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day is beginning to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! College football is back!!! Absolutely love this time of year! 😊 

Last Friday night my family and I went to a high school football game. I didn’t know anyone in the game, so it was fun to just go watch football and not really care who won. 

There was an elderly gentleman sitting in front of us. We did not talk through most of the 1^st quarter. I can’t remember exactly how the conversation started however he soon told me that his Grandson was #17. All the sudden I cared. I watched #17 everywhere he went, every play, and I genuinely wanted him to play well. And as we watched I learned that the elderly gentleman is retired from GM, that he had played professional football, and I learned about some of his challenges.

It is amazing to me how much we are all alike. We all have hopes, goals, and dreams. We have families we love, challenges we face, and issues we have overcome. All we have to do is care enough to talk to another human being and soon enough a high school football game that meant nothing, suddenly means a lot.

As I have thought about all this during the week, I am reminded of a situation several years ago while I was still coaching. Several members of the coaching staff and I were at an event at an elementary school. There was a woman there who was strung out on drugs. I remember looking at her and being so judgmental. Then one of the coaches recognized her. He had known her several years earlier…I believe his brother had dated her. It was clear that the coach genuinely cared about her and, in seeing his compassion, empathy, and care, everything changed for me. Suddenly I wasn’t not judging her but rather I felt great compassion for her. I cared about her because my friend did.

Putting these two things together, I want to offer two challenges for all of us this week:

1.      Talk to someone new. Just strike up a conversation and get to know someone you don’t know. Find out who they are, where they are from, what they do vocationally, learn about their families, etc. Maybe you will have the opportunity to encourage someone, or perhaps you will find yourself inspired. Either way, you will both win.

2.     I am pretty sure nobody set out to be a drug addict, homeless, or to have whatever challenge they are facing. I learned a lot that day many years ago…we all have a story, they all matter, and most of us have someone that cares about us. Let’s look at those who are facing challenges with great compassion. As my mom used to often say, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”

The thought that keeps coming to my mind is “it just takes one.” It just takes one friendly word, one word of encouragement, one person to care…it just takes one. You and I can be the one. We can treat people differently and we can choose to look at people differently. Let’s really strive – intentionally!!! – to see and believe the best in people and do everything we can to let them know they matter and that they have value. One by one, we can change the world!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!

Kev