refresh.

There’s beauty in the way a child gives a hug, so full and free. You can feel their emotions because it doesn’t cross their mind to be stingy with love.

They don’t realize it yet, but they’re busy refreshing people. Their whole spirit working in harmony with their Creator, just loving people. Unbeknownst to them, they’re God’s modern witnesses.

There’s a subtle way that God brings people into our lives as witnesses of who He is.

Maybe we’ve experienced consideration, as someone has held the door for us. Or a look of empathy as someone has noticed our struggle. Maybe we’ve felt respect as someone has patiently listened to our perspective. Or kindness and mercy when someone has been quick to forgive us for hurting them. Maybe we’ve been surprised in our day to day life as we’ve seen an unexpected generosity, or a glimpse of compassion, or simply the gentleness of a soft answer when most of us would offer something else.

It’s these goodness’s that refresh. They bring love, and friendship, and understanding.

They remind us that when we exercise self-control, faithfulness and grace rise up. And the outpouring of this is pure refreshment to everyone who experiences it.

Can this be our banner, lifted high in our hearts, deep within our soul, that our actions and our love show solid evidence of who God is? May we refresh.