Pepper and Salt

Just today I looked down at the bowl of ham potpie my husband cooked for me (which was delicious, by the way) and decided that he has influenced me more than I thought he could!

You have to understand - this man loves pepper. Seriously. He loves it so much that he's known to take the top off a pepper shaker at a restaurant and dump pepper on his food. And woe to the waitress who has a pepper mill and crushes it for his salad waiting for him to say, 'that's enough' - it never is! I've told him time and again that he has managed to burn all the taste buds off his tongue from eating so much black pepper.

Now, I've always used a little pepper, but nothing in comparison to him. Today, I looked down at my soup and realized I'd added enough to dot the whole surface of my soup! When did I convert? It certainly wasn't an overnight thing, although it sort of felt that way today.

Nope, I have been adding more and more pepper to my food as I have eaten more of his cooking and gotten used to the taste of pepper until now I'm actually adding it to my food!

We influence others in our life everyday. Through our speech, our actions, our attitudes. We're rubbing off on those around us! I hope that it is in a positive way - or at least like in the case of this black pepper - not a negative one.

Jesus is our Example, and Paul says, "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern." (Phil 3:17), but I think influence is more subtle. Webster's calls it "the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways." It's "the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command."

Influence happens when we aren't aware of it!

It's in what we do, the vibes we give out, and the words that we say. We pick up on others' favorite words and patterns of speech, we repeat attitudes and even begin acting in the same manner - all without realizing we are doing it. And it has it's consequences - a ripple effect not just in our lives, but those we are influencing.

Jesus says we are be 'salt' to the world: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Mt 5:13)

Pepper and salt. How are you seasoning your life?

All for Him,

Missy