The purple ring seemed to give me superpowers. But I know it only worked because I made a choice. A choice brought about by the ripple effect created through the choices of another.
The ripple effect of these choices–choices of love, service and selflessness–made by this, my new found mentor, took seed in my heart immediately following her funeral service.
The ripple effect of her choice to always help the poor and downtrodden caused me to give money–free from doubt or reservation–to a woman outside of a restaurant.
The ripple effect of her choice to do what she loved even if it meant “dancing with the bookshelf” caused me to sing karaoke with my kids–because I secretly love karaoke–when normally I would have allowed fear to keep me as a silent spectator.
And the ripple effect of her choice to be a “do-er” with a zest for celebration caused me to take a late-night, impromptu trip to Walmart with my girls to fetch a new karaoke machine when the old one wasn’t cutting it.
But perhaps the ripple effect that I’m most grateful for came from her choice to love.
She would look at me–whenever I had the privilege to speak to her–with genuine eyes full of wonder and curiosity. It was an expression reserved not only for me but for all she met. I believe it is because she had eyes that truly looked outward, focusing on, and being interested in the light and life of others.
And as someone who often looks inward–focusing on my own fears, insecurities and need for comfort–this was the ripple effect that I needed the most.
So this morning I put on my purple ring–because purple was her favorite color–and I prayed that the Lord would bless me with eyes that looked outward. A prayer that was answered in ways that I never dreamed possible.
The purple ring may not have given me superpowers, but my choices–choices brought about by the ripple effect created through the choices of another–have forever changed my life.
