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I have a friend named Alene who will call for nothing more than to say hello and see what I'm doing. We may talk for just a few minutes, but before she hangs up, she'll say, "Tell me, Joyce. What has been the best thing about your day?"

Alene recently presented this question to my 86 year old mother. She had had a pretty uneventful day, in my opinion, so I was curious to see how she would answer. I had to smile when her response was, "Making valentines." She had spent some time that day writing notes on some Valentine computer paper I'd given her. She was writing notes and making her own personal valentines. It touched my heart to know that making that effort to express her love to her family was the best part of her day. It also made me a bit sad to think that I had been so busy working that I hadn't taken the time to share that activity with her.

When Alene's husband comes home from work, she stops what she's doing and asks, with a big smile on her face, "So, honey, tell me. What was the best thing about your day?" When she first started this exercise, he probably had to stop and think about it before he could answer. Now that she asks it on a daily basis, I'll bet he has reflected on the events of the day during his drive home and has an answer all ready for her. Don't you know that this is a husband who is eager to get home to his wife each evening?

So many of us routinely say, out of habit and without really wanting an answer, "How are you"? More often than not, the reply will be, "Fine." It's understood that the asker doesn't really want to know how you are, and if you do respond negatively, people don't know what to say!

But what a difference it makes when you really step outside yourself for a minute to find out what makes someone else happy?

First of all, it makes you look back at your day for something positive. You might have had a generally lousy day, but that's not what you're being asked about. You're required to tell about the best part of the day. Maybe it's making valentines. Maybe someone smiled at you. If you can just find one ray of sunshine, it will help the darkness fade away.

Secondly, it makes you feel important because the way the question was asked tells you that they are anxiously waiting for an answer. They really want to know what made you happy that day. They are excited to hear about it. What a wonderful gift for someone to give of themselves in this way.

Thirdly, when you ask the question and they respond positively, you can't help but smile. So the nice gesture to inquire about their day also offers something positive to yours.

You will be surprised at the answers you'll receive. There's a different answer for every situation, and you will be surprised at how much you learn about others and how little is required to be the best part of their day.

The first time Alene asked me The Question, I struggled with an answer. The last time she asked me, I was ready. "Why, the best part of my day is that you called me," I said.

You know what her response was? "Well, Joyce, that was the best answer you could have given me."

Isn't it wonderful?

Now...try the experiment for yourself and see how many lives you can bless.