What Makes You Think I Care?

My family is hilarious. That is, we all think we are pretty funny, but I’m not sure that other people genuinely appreciate our particular brand of humor. Ok, we are just obnoxious, but we think we’re funny.

I work in my parent’s printing and promotional products business and several years ago I thought it would be humorous to have some cups made that said, “What makes you think I care?” I’m not sure what that says about my state of mind at the time or my sense of humor, but I thought they were funny and gave them to friends and family. We still have a stack of these cups in the cabinet and a few weeks ago I reached into the cabinet to get one out. When I opened the cabinet and reached for the cup, the words had a whole new meaning for me. It dawned on me, “What DOES make people think I care? What makes people think I care?” I don’t know why this day was any different. I use these cups all of the time, but the thought just stuck with me throughout the day. What makes people (anyone I come in contact with) think that I care about them?

I have a gorgeous friend named Tina who always greets me with, “Hi beautiful!” Now, Tina is actually beautiful. She has radiant dark hair, glowing skin, and bright twinkling eyes. I feel like a wallflower next to Tina. But what makes Tina even more attractive is that she makes a point to make the people around her feel special. I know I’m not the only friend she greets this way. When she greets me with “Hi beautiful!”, she is telling me that I matter. That she wants me to feel good about myself. That she wants me to enjoy being with her. That small gesture is a little gift of affirmation. It tells me she cares.

So how do I show the world that I care? Is it that I post pictures of date night with my husband and all the funny things my kids say on instatwittersnapbook? Is it because I cook a lovely dinner every night? Not a chance. What makes my neighbors think I care? It’s certainly not my manicured lawn. More importantly, what makes my husband, my children, my parents, my sister, my friends, and my co-workers think that I care?

I have countless opportunities every day to lift up and love on those close to me, to show them that I care. Do I always make use of these opportunities? Honestly, no. I can easily become task-focused and more determined to check off my To Do list than to really listen to my children or check on a friend in need. That’s not the person I want to be. I want to be like Tina. I want to make others feel better about themselves after spending time with me. I have an opportunity to glorify God with my words and actions every day. Perhaps that should be item #1 on my priority list.