"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."1. Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
You may have seen the following parable on the web, but it stands repeating.
A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhh!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "Son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do.
Unknown author. Seen on the Internet.
Thomas Dreier said, "The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are."
As Jesus said, "What we sow is what we reap." If we sow negativity, we will reap negativity. If we sow bitterness, we will reap bitterness. If we sow criticism, we will reap criticism. On the other hand, if we sow love, we will reap love. If we sow friendship, we will reap friendship. If we sow encouragement, we will reap encouragement. Life gives back what we give to it.
Be sure to sow seeds of kindness, encouragement, and love today—and every day—and you will find, in time, that is exactly what you will receive back. For what we project is what we get back.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, that teaches everyday principles for meaningful living. Please help me always to sow seeds of kindness, encouragement, and love wherever I go and no matter with whom I am. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."