“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

“WOW! This place has been CRAZY!” We were standing in a long checkout line… and since we weren’t going anywhere fast, I struck up the conversation. “Yea,” he replied, “it’s that time of year!” I knew what he was hinting at so I asked him, “Resident or snowbird?” And the conversation was moving along. Things got real when I asked, “Go to church anywhere?”

My new friend’s response was instant… “daily living in grace and mercy.” His answer assured me we were brothers… and would spend eternity together. Then he told me his wife was recently diagnosed with cancer and that his father was failing with Alzheimers. An instant desire to pray for him came, and I told him so. We were both blessed by our meeting.

Love and Honor can come naturally between people who share common History. Family, friends, co-workers and associates can share good, or bad blood, depending on the circumstances. God tells me to make sure that whatever the circumstances, I am to love and honor them anyway. A tough sell when one has been burned or mistreated. God says ‘do it!’

God calls me to make conversations and relationships with people in this world for HIS Glory and purposes… not my own! So when I find myself standing in a line with someone, I make it a habit to start a conversation to see if we have any commonality between us… and to share Jesus when a door opens. It’s a blessing both given AND received.