The other day I was merging onto the interstate, headed to church. It was Sunday morning, actually. Traffic was moving pretty fast, but a driver slowed down just enough to give me room. As I pulled in front of him, I raised my hand and gave him the little wave.
You know the wave.
It is the unofficial thank-you of the highway. Nothing dramatic. You just lift your hand for half a second to acknowledge that another person gave up a few feet of pavement for you.
For some reason, I started thinking about how much that little wave matters to me when the roles are reversed. When I let someone merge and they do not wave, it bothers me more than it should. Apparently, I believe that giving up four feet of interstate deserves formal recognition.
I do not need flowers or a handwritten note. Just give me the wave.
Of course, the fact that I was thinking all of this while driving to church was probably worth examining.
If my kindness requires recognition, how much of it is actually kindness? Maybe I am simply making a small transaction with an unspoken price.
Jesus once healed ten men with leprosy. All ten received the healing they desperately needed, but only one came back to thank Him. Jesus noticed. He even asked where the other nine were.
Gratitude mattered. The one who returned understood that he had received more than a change in circumstances. He had received a gift.
But Jesus had already healed all ten. He did not take the healing back from the nine who failed to return. Their lack of gratitude revealed something about them, but it did not change who He was.
That is probably where I still have some growing to do.
It is much easier to be generous when people notice. Serving feels better when someone says thank you. But real kindness cannot always wait around for the wave.
We should absolutely be grateful people. We should return, say thank you, and recognize the grace others extend to us.
And when they forget, we can still leave a little room.
So let them merge. Do the good thing. If they wave, wave back.
If they do not, keep driving.
If this made you smile or think, please share it.
#FirstLight #Faith #Gratitude #Kindness #Grace