I stood on the shore and watched the kids throw rocks into the lake.
Whole fistfuls flew through the air. Each rock hit the water with the same
result. No matter the size of the rock, ripples circled out, intersected with
other ripples, and spanned far beyond the spot where each stone landed.

We are like these rocks. No matter how influential or how insignificant we
see ourselves, we each send out ripples that circle further than we ever dream.

Words and deeds of kindness or cruelty, gentleness or abrasiveness,
generosity or greed, all ripple out and touch other lives far beyond the
boundaries we think they go.

Our families, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers are often affected
by an act or a word of ours that we never imagined would get that far.

My husband is good at skipping rocks across the water. The kids count the
skips — the more the better. Sometimes we think we too can skip through life,
independent, not touching others, hurrying on without time to stop and be
concerned about anyone else. Yet the inevitable ripples still flow out. We do
influence, we do touch others, even when we are not aware of it.

As you go through your day today be reminded that you are sending out ripples.
You have no idea how far they can go.

The Life