A 10-second "mile"

My kids are I were playing tennis the other evening (well that's what we call it anyway)! My daughter was learning how to properly hold her raquet, hit the ball accurately, and develop a tennis swing.  She just came off softball season and had won the Biggest hitter award so she was still swinging for the fences. I kept telling her to hit the tennis ball "softly." Nonetheless, many of our tennis balls ended up out in the grass.

After she hit another one over the fence, I suddenly see someone jogging over to the ball, pick it up, and quietly toss it back inside the fence. She quickly turns around and I'm surprised when I see her get back into a burgundy Chevy Blazer. At first I thought she was a runner jogging around the KART trail - the paved path that passes by the tennis courts. But after a little more inspection it was apparent that she was on her way home after a softball game. She must have asked the driver, her sister, to stop for a second.

I was moved by this simple, yet powerful act of kindness. Here's why:

1. The young lady went the "extra mile" (Matthew 5:41). I told my kids I thought this was an example of someone going the "extra mile" as we had learned about at KCC Kidstuf the week before. Occasionally, someone running the KART trail would pick up a tennis ball and toss it back in, but I had never seen some driving by make the effort to do that.
2. She did it anonymously. The Bible says when you do your good deeds "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3).
3. It was so simple. The impact of her act will remain with me and my kids for years. Yet the actual deed probably took all of 10 seconds! How often do we have opportunity to make a positive difference in someones life with just a simple act of kindness? Even a "drink of water" given in Jesus' name will not go unnoticed (Mark 9:41).

So, I did some research on my suspicions of who the mystery young lady might be and think I've figured it out. This young lady is a follower of Jesus. She leads a Small Bible Group at the High School. Plus, today happens to be her 16th birthday!! Wish Jaycee Helsel happy birthday today in person if you see her or write on her Facebook wall. 

May Jaycee inspire us all to simply, and quietly, go the extra mile for those around us.