Let’s be honest everyone…It’s super simple to live life by our feelings. And when life isn’t going well and we’re not batting 300, the words that come out of our mouths and those behaviors that we demonstrate, can-very simply put–SUCK. And Big time.
We have a horrific day at the office. Our boss read us the riot act over something seemingly insignificant. We get a call from the principals office at our children’s school because our seven-year-old daughter is in the nurse’s office puking all over the place. Our car battery sounds like it’s on its last leg and we’re afraid we won’t even make it to the school without replacing it first. It’s a never ending list…
It’s hard to be kind on days like this. It just is. We wear our feelings on our sleeves and take our frustrations out on innocent bystanders. I’m never proud when I fall prey to a crappy attitude and throwing up all over people that don’t deserve it. And thankfully, it’s an exception, not the rule for me. But the truth be told,…I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it. And while I can’t speak for all of us, I know I need to work on the KINDNESS factor.
I know of no greater SELFLESS human being on the face of this earth, than Mother Theresa. The impact she had on our world–the poverty stricken and the downtrodden, was beyond comprehension. This poem was found on Mother’s Theresa’s wall for the children in Calcutta and I think it’s good to explore and ponder, because kindness is something we could ALL improve upon:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Truthfully friends, we really don’t know what anyone on the face of this earth is going through at any given moment. We pass people every single day that are in unimaginable and unbearable pain. Maybe they just lost a parent, a mother, a father, or a child and they feel their whole world is about to come crashing down. They could have had a series of events occur in life hat has left them depressed and even suicidal. When people are in pain, they either withdraw or they aren’t fun to be around because they wear their emotions on their sleeves. They are like walking pressure cookers.
Have you ever had someone snap at you and rather than considering what they might be going through, we automatically start throwing out judgments and assumptions? I wonder what the heck her problem is? What a crab. He sure as sam hell shouldn’t be working with the public. What a sour puss.
When I take 30 minutes to an hour each morning to read my Bible, read my devotional, and pray, there’s something that happens on the inside of me. It’s as if my All-Powerful, Gracious God, takes some sand paper to the rough edges on my heart and a softening begins to take place. As a general rule, I feel better. I act better. I’m am simply more pleasant to be around. And the fruits of the spirit are made manifest in my life every time I submit myself to my Heavenly Father: The beautiful Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self Control that ensues is worth every single moment of that divine connection (Galatians 5:22)!
What spurs you to acts of kindness? Whatever it is, by all means, take the time to put it into practice and become a person that brings value and love to our world. Your treatment of those you come in contact with throughout the day whether in line at the grocery store, in the Post Office mailing a letter, or at your favorite restaurant could CHANGE. A. LIFE. FOREVER.
