Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not. -Samuel Johnson
I stole this from one of my facebook friends morning status'. It is such an empowering quote, I love it! It reminds me of a casual conversation I was having with a friend the other day. Long story short I was explaining how I see the same people on my morning dog walk which is sometimes nice and sometimes a PITA. And one morning I didn't go all the way around the block because I just couldn't "deal" with having this encounter (a five minute conversation with another dog walker). And me being me felt so awful after doing that. It was like, "what has this person ever done to me except be nice?". Which is true. It was just at that moment in time I didn't feel I had the energy to spark up a nonsense conversation when I was already running late.... which I am entitled to but still feel bad about.
My friend made a good point- that she feels that way sometimes but afterward you feel bad because "it's not very Christian of you" and it was like "BING" went off in my head! That's it.. that is where I get stuck. I feel like I try and try and try to do "good" in God's, my family and other people's eyes but you have to remember that you are human! Sometimes I get upset and when I do it doesn't mean I am a bad person or you are a disappointment. You don't have to love or like everybody and they don't have to love or like you... and you can not like or like someone for a period of time and that can change... nothing is permanent in life (except we are born, we live, we die), but we do have "control" of our actions. I'm not saying be fake, but you kindness and understanding goes a long way and I bet an even longer way than you or I would think.
It's like when people say "you never know what is going on in that person's life" is so true! When you want to reach across and punch the bank teller, cashier, receptionist, etc. because they are rude. You can get upset and freak out (and sometimes I do) or you can do what you can up until a certain point and give that person a break because you have no idea what is going on in their life. Now if that person is rude over and over again then it's fair game :) hehe.
It makes me think of the girls I coach when I watch how they interact with each other. Girls can be so mean and as a soon to-be-parent it makes me sad and scared if I have a little girl. So many things out of your control. You just hope that she is nice to others and they are nice to her. You hear all these awful stories about bullying in schools and the tragic ends that some kids find.
I'm rambling, which is OK, but I just really liked the message of the quote and wanted to share it!
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