“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” - Romans 13:8

I once got asked to pray a blessing at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new business. The owner was a church member, so I was glad to do it. But, I never imagined the “influence” that one prayer had! Many people were blessed by this simple prayer, and the owner continues to honor God with their business.

There are so many people within our communities, both business owners and service providers that simply don’t get the recognition they deserve. As public servants, most of them don’t do it for the paycheck. They have the heart to serve, to give back, and to make their communities safer, cleaner, and more productive. Yes, it’s their job, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a pat on the back or a blessing every now and then.

Even the businesses in our communities need thoughtful consideration. Many of these men and women have made great sacrifices to open a business and provide a product or service for us. They’ve had sleepless nights and empty bank accounts in their pursuit of a successful business.  Recognizing their great customer service, high-quality products or dependability goes a long way in helping them continue to do this more and more.

When Christians step into the role of blessing our communities, they stand out in stark contrast to the rest of the world. That’s the goal, right?

TRY IT: Two ideas: (1) Contact your Chamber of Commerce office and get a list of new members. Take them a welcome basket from your family or business. (2) Identify a small community service office and take them a cooler of drinks.