Give of Your Heart’s Rich Overflow

Recently I was in New York City for a graduation. In the past I have found crowds and new places stressful, leaving me exhausted. Having help from a practitioner has been changing my focus and attitude, especially watching how I am thinking of others. The practitioner has been teaching me to make sure I am seeing everyone as God’s children.

While riding on the train in the subway, I saw a mother with her young son in a stroller. She looked tired and was carrying a bag with a logo on it of an organization that serves those in need. I was sitting behind a metal partition and could only see the top of the child’s head during the ride. Ideas I had been hearing during Plainfield classes, watches, and testimonies flooded my thoughts. In turn I poured these blessings out on this child. Any discouraging thoughts of poverty, environment, city blight, etc., I refuted by knowing that God could raise up individuals to be a force for good and blessings in their communities and world. I chose to see everyone as being able to feel and express the love of God.

Joy and peace washed over me as I held to these thoughts. As I got up to get off the train, the child, who had up to that point been very quiet, immediately looked up at me and greeted me with delightful squeals; he was full of smiles and happy chatter. It was as if we were old friends. He turned his whole body to follow me as I walked around his stroller out the door, all the while he continued to make these joyous little sounds. I was awed by this and I could see God’s hand in it, since before this encounter the child could not see me nor did I do anything to get his attention.

I was humbled to learn this lesson in right thinking and the importance of our mental atmosphere, because we never know what effect it could have on others. I also went home after a day in the city, not at all tired and feeling calm.