Hope in Battles

     The lady walking beside you just got diagnosed with breast cancer and it has spread too far to treat.  The man that just cut you off earlier got the news that he was let go from his job and has 5 kids at home to feed.  The teenager that you waited for to cross the street has severe depression and could barely get out of bed.
     Everyone has battles that they face every day.  Some are more clear than others.  How many of us take time out of our day to give hope to those around us?  You never know what a simple act of kindness or service could do for somebody.  A poll was taken asking recovering suicidal people what would have changed their minds about suicide.  I was pretty surprised about the  majority of the answers.  They said a smile or a wave. Can you believe that?  That is something so simple.
     I remember one Sunday I really wasn't feeling well. I hadn't slept much the night before. I went to church but three hours was tough to sit.  This one boy that I had said hi to a few times came up to me and said, "You know Olivia, you make me so happy. Every time I see you it just makes me happy. Thanks." It touched me so much that I wrote down the date it happened and everything. On January 5th a simple compliment changed my entire day.
      My little brother, Rudy, used to say, " Imagine everyone is fighting the hardest battle and you are probably right." Ever since then it has changed my outlook on people around me . I wave at almost everyone I pass driving by.  I smile at people walking.  I am certainly not perfect at all and I have my bad days, probably more than others. But, I am also positive that the simple things make the biggest difference.
     That lady that I mentioned earlier? Someone told her how beautiful her eyes were. That man that cut you off?  Someone anonymously dropped of dinner at their house.  The teenager? Someone befriended her and sat by her at the lunch table.
     Battles at first seem so impossible.  There is hope.  Give hope out to people.  Smile, wave, and give compliments. You never know what they are going through.  You never know what kind of a difference you might make.