While going about your everyday life, you come into contact with many people. Most people in today's society try their best to avoid human interaction. Even I'm guilty of choosing the self-checkout line at Wal-Mart so that I don't have to strike up conversation with an employee who obviously hates their job and doesn't truly care if "I found everything alright," but the truth is there's a lot more to their life than putting on a blue shirt and making change.

The high school age cashier who is obviously faking a smile and throwing your eggs in a sack could be working at Wal-Mart because she has to put herself through college. The woman yelling at her child and shoving past everyone could be in a hurry to get home so that she can fix her hardworking husband his favorite meal in attempt to save their marriage. The man in the suit who stares at his feet while he walks could go home to an empty apartment and try to cure his loneliness with a bottle. The seemingly parentless child running around with a cart knocking things off the shelf could be fighting for attention and affection from a single mom with multiple kids. Every stranger has a background, secrets, and a life that is not apparent to anyone from the outside. Everyone carries burdens, worries, and guilt with them, and all an outsider would see is grocery bags.

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so some have shown hospitality to the angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

Many find it difficult to serve others in their everyday life. Some believe that they are too busy, some believe that they have nothing to offer, and others see no opportunity. These are all misconceptions.

Each person is perfectly capable of smiling. It may seem like something little, but God does not call everyone to move mountains. Sometimes God puts you in a situation to show kindness to someone who is having a tough day, which is one of the easiest ways you can serve others.

So instead of avoiding eye contact with the mother who is still in her pajamas dragging her child by the ear, simply smile. Instead of getting annoyed that the man in the deli cannot get your order correct, simply smile. Instead of having a machine tell you, "thank you for shopping at Walmart," start a conversation with an actual human being and simply smile!

"Each of you has received a gift to use to help each other. Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace." 1 Peter 4:10

God calls us to use our gifts to serve others, and build each other up and what better way to start than to smile at strangers.