This is an amazing story. It is also entirely true.

I recently visited a men’s clothing store. As I entered, a tall man warmly greeted me. He radiated a happy magnetism and made me feel wonderfully welcome.

I browsed through the store for about fifteen minutes then walked to the exit. As I started to leave, I thanked the man for his welcome. He expressed his appreciation and as I turned to go he asked if he could tell me a story.

He said that when he was a child, his uncle worked as a security guard at a bank. One day the uncle told him about an experience that led to a life lesson he wanted the boy to learn.

The uncle said that early one morning, soon after he had unlocked the bank’s front door, he saw a man walking toward the entrance. His shoulders were slumped, and his hands were shoved deep into his pockets. As he passed, the uncle thought he had never seen such a depressed individual.

As the man reached for the door the uncle greeted him and told him how happy he was to have him at the bank. The uncle smiled and wished the stranger a happy day. The man seemed startled then continued into the bank.

The uncle watched as the man stood in line for several minutes. When his turn came the woman teller also greeted him with a sincere welcome. The man abruptly turned around and left the bank.

One week later the uncle was on duty at the same spot when the stranger approached. The uncle again greeted him and the man stopped and told him he had returned to thank him.

He said one week before he had been slammed by bad news and was so distraught that he decided to pick a bank and rob it. He told the guard that when he had greeted him so warmly, it was like a ray of sunshine piercing his darkness. After an emotional moment, he turned and left.

The uncle then told the child to always be the sunshine because you never know when someone is in darkness.

That child was the man telling me the story.

Let this be God’s lesson for you. Ask God to help you help people. Always “be the sunshine”.

The Bible says in I Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” NIV

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