Do your ears Pop?

Yesterday on my flight home from Toledo, two young High School girls came in to sit down in the available seats right next to mine while I was finishing up a chapter in my daily bible reading. Upon completing my chapter, one of the girls asked me “Do your ears pop when flying?” Sensing she wanted to start a conversation, I responded yes they do when the plane reaches a certain altitude. The three of us then proceeded to have a nice conversation. During the course of our conversation and after getting to know each other a bit, the girls said “we thought you were mean”. “What”, I exclaimed!!! “Why would you think that? “I’m one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet!”” Well they said, you looked so serious when we sat down.” Their observation definitely made “my ears pop” to attention. I guess I was deep in thought after finishing a chapter from the Bible, or thinking about the past weekend visiting my Dad at the nursing home, or celebrating my Mother’s 85th Birthday, or the hole in one I almost had playing golf with my brother or the first photo shoot we did in many years. Whatever it was, I immediately focused all my attention on these two nice young ladies sitting next to me. I began to share some life lessons from my Never Give Up book. Stories about faith, family, perseverance and the like. The girls shared their stories about rowing team, school, church and family. We all laughed, ohhed and awwwed at the stories. Finally when the plane arrived in Orlando, I apologized for seeming mean, told them how great it was to meet them and wished them a great trip in Florida, we then said goodbye and went our separate ways. Later that day, I received a FB friend request from a lady I never heard of so I ignored it. A few moments after that a private message appeared from the same lady, here it is:
“Hi there you dont know me but i had to thank you for being good to my daughter kylee and her bestfriend chelsy on the plane i had prayed for protection over them as they flew alone and there you appeared on the plane god is so amazing and works in mysterious ways!!!!?”
Such a nice note and reminder that no matter where we go or what we’re doing, we can be a person of positive influence to make this world a better place if only we make our “ears pop” to attention and focus on and encourage the person right next to us. God Bless, Stay Fit!

”And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25