Traveling for business can make life feel rushed and impersonal—airports, elevators, hotel rooms that all blur together. But every now and then, something breaks through the routine and calls us deeper.
That happened to me recently in Dallas.
I was getting ready in my hotel room when I noticed a small sign on the mirror, an invitation to tip the housekeeping staff, complete with a QR code. I’d never seen anything like it. At first, I simply thought, What a great idea. It made generosity easier.
Then I thought of my dear friend who always leaves a handwritten note and a bit of cash for housekeeping whenever we travel. I’ve admired her practice for years, but it never quite pushed me into doing the same.
But that morning, something shifted.
I started thinking about the people who clean our rooms, the ones who make the beds, fold the towels, empty the trash, and care for the small details we barely notice. I imagined a woman trying to sustain her family on housekeeping wages. I thought of immigrants who have come to this country from dangerous places, hoping for stability, safety, and a future. I thought of how invisible their labor can become, even though it shapes our comfort.
And somewhere in that quiet reflection, my heart softened.
By the time I finished getting ready, I pulled out my phone, scanned the QR code, and took action. It felt small, but also deeply right, like responding to a nudge from God that had been waiting for me to notice.
We are asked to care for one another.
We are asked to see the poor, the overlooked, the ones whose work makes our lives possible.
I’m grateful that such a small sign had such a great impact on my heart bringing me back to my humanity. Thank you, Lord, for helping me notice and for helping me respond.
What is God stirring in your heart to notice today?
Smitten With Goodness 