When I was in grades 7-12, I trick-or-treated every year on Halloween with a group of friends in the same neighborhood. At the house of an elderly couple, we learned it was the man’s birthday. Our group of six sang a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” which delighted the older gentleman. 

As it was so dark, we never remembered exactly where this house was, but every year we happened across it and sang happy birthday to the same elderly man.

During our senior year, we sadly told the man and his wife that this would be our last year because we were all headed off to college next fall. He looked stricken. But we sang one last time and then waved our goodbyes.

About an hour later, we were still trick-or-treating when a car pulled up. Out popped the same little old man, his arms full of homegrown flowers. He had gone into his yard in the dark and cut blooms for us—to thank us. He handed them to us with tears in his eyes. 

I never saw him again after that night.

It was such a simple thing. But it made an impact. Simple gestures very often do. You might think you can’t do anything to make a difference in someone’s life. But you can. Just a word, a kind thought, a simple hello can often mean all the difference in the world to someone.

“Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12).