Thirty-six years ago a woman befriended me.  We had never met before I called her on the phone with a crazy request. “Could you help me improve my photography skills?” The owner of the local photo lab had given me her number because she was the best photographer in our area and known to be generous.  I explained to her that our family had been living overseas serving in a third world country and I needed to show those at home what our life there was like, but my photography skills were lacking.  I desperately needed someone to mentor me. It was before the age of easy communication.  There was no internet, no cell phones, in fact, we didn’t even have a landline phone where we served.  In those days, letters took 3 weeks to get to the US from our jungle location. So every three years we came home and showed slideshows so people at home could understand our lives overseas.  But my images heretofore were lacking.

She could have told me she was too busy with her own photography studio, but instead she invited me to bring my photos from overseas to her house so she could critique them.  And thus began my apprenticeship that spanned two furloughs and gave me the skills I needed to bring home images that better described our lives overseas.  I never paid her a penny for the countless hours she taught me.  She had nothing to gain by mentoring me.  (Except one time when she sprained her wrist and I shot a wedding with her standing at my elbow coaching me thru the entire wedding day.)  

Although I can never repay her, I can donate my services to non-profit organizations who serve those who need a helping hand.  I know she would be pleased to know that the skills she patiently taught me are helping many.

We have a saying, “Pay it forward”.  We inherently know that when we receive good things, we should then give good things to others when we have the opportunity.  We are motivated to pass on good because we appreciate the good given to us.  A small example is when we’re in a traffic jam and someone lets us merge in front of them, we try to do the same for someone else.   In a greater sense, because God has treated us kindly, we want to do the same for others.  I remind myself daily of the kindness God showers on me. He provides my physical needs and my spiritual needs.  As I meditate on how he treats me, I’m motivated to treat others like that.  
 
For instance, I know the Scriptures say I’m forgiven, but sometimes guilt tries to steal the relief of forgiveness.  I relive the wrongs I’ve done instead of feeling gratitude that those wrongs have been forgotten by God.  What if I felt completely forgiven?  Wouldn’t it be easier to forgive others? 
“. . . forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32
 
What if we felt totally and forever loved?  Wouldn’t that spill over onto others?
“… And they will know that they . . . are my people, says the Sovereign Lord.  You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!””  Ezekiel 34:30-31
  
What if we felt accepted?  Wouldn’t we be likely to accept others? 
 “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”  Romans 15:7

What if we felt deeply understood?  Wouldn’t we seek to understand others?  
“You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.”  Psalm 139:2-3

What if we never doubted that we’d be provided for?  Wouldn’t we be more generous?
 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

What if we felt peace about our story?  Wouldn’t we have more concern for others?
“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ . . . As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”  Colossians 1:22
  
What if we had confidence that our place was secure?   Wouldn’t we confidently serve others without feeling threatened? 
“Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”  Jude 1:24
 
What if we felt constant companionship?  Wouldn’t we try to befriend others?
“ I, the Lord their God, am with them.”  Ezekiel 34:30
because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5

Jesus, himself, showed us how to pay it forward.
“Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:5,14-15

“be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32

Let’s revel in God’s forgiveness, love, intimacy, provision, and good plans for us!  And then pay it forward.