This week there seemed to be a theme of choosing to be kind throughout my week.
I texted my spiritual mom about two instances where I had shown kindness about circumstances that I knew were beyond my own capacity. Choosing to show up a certain way, even though my natural inclination was not that.
A few days later, while trying to get gas, I pulled into the gas station from one entrance. As all the pumps were occupied and I needed to turn my car, I started the process, out of nowhere, a white van comes in and starts heading for the same pump. I honk to let him know that’s also where I was headed, and, he didn’t seem to care. As soon as I tried to adjust my car, he pulled right up to the pump, getting there before me. As I don’t like overly crowded spaces to begin with, I decided to go find a different gas station. Not bothering to try to fight over a pump.
Be kind anyway.
I found an empty gas station not too far away and thanked God that He provides far better than we can ask.
Later that day, as I was picking up fast food for my daughter and her friend, I tried to exchange pleasantries with the person taking the order. He was not having it and was only interested in taking my order.
When we started the drive to get the food, my daughter’s friend commented on this worker’s borderline rudeness. She’s 10 and noticed his response. I explained to her that in life, we can only control how we show up for others and even when people are being less than nice, we should choose to ‘be kind anyway’ as we never know the impact that can make for someone who is in need. She understood.
On a daily basis, we will encounter people with different attitudes. We may never know what they are going through. A smile or kind word can change the trajectory of someone’s whole day, or life.
Be kind anyway. Even if they choose not to respond in kind.
Dear Heavenly Father, we are not professing that any of this is easy. We know that certain attitudes only come from you, and so even now, we ask that you fill us with your love and graciousness towards ourselves and others. Help us to choose to be kind, regardless of the response we may get from others.