BE KIND

It has been a busy few months. We have had family adjustments and illness, but life goes on. That is what I want to blog about today.

I have a job where I have to be happy all the time or at least sound happy, no matter how I feel. This pressure hit me hard about a month ago when I got some bad news. While at work, I receive a text letting me know my son would have to go through surgery.  You see, no matter how old her child becomes, a mother always worries.

My son underwent this same surgery about 10 years before and did not do well. To hear that he would undergo it again was crushing. He and his new wife would have to cancel their honeymoon trip, too. I was so sad for them and worried, too.

But life had to go on and I had to answer phones at work and sound cheery. Then I got a call from a hateful customer who yelled at me because our product couldn't fit his time line. I continued to talk calmly and professionally. He continued to be rude as if his rage could change the laws of physics and make the product assemble itself faster. I was worried about my son and he wanted to bully me into making the impossible happen.

When I hung up the phone, I took a minute to wipe away the tears before answering the next call. That hateful man taught me a great lesson.

You see, we interact with people everyday, They have lives we don't know about, lives full of complications. It is easy to speak roughly to others--because of our own hardships. Kindness is a better option. It isn't that hard; a smile, a gentle phrase, just showing good manners.

I don't want to be the bully on the phone. I hope to choose kindness.

THE LITTLE THINGS WE DO

Character is shown when you are generous to people who may never be able to return your kindness. Character is how you treat the vulnerable. It is a mother caring for children or an adult mentoring a youth. Or maybe it is shown by Karen, the lifeguard who works at the YMCA on Saturday afternoons.

I am a member at my local YMCA and right after Christmas had some difficulty walking. I had to exercise at home before I could even return to the gym.

What I really wanted was to exercise at the YMCA pool. The warm, salty water would be soothing to my achy muscles, but more important, exercising in that water would greatly enhance my recovery. It was weeks before I was steady enough to walk down the steps of the pool to get into the water or surefooted enough to even venture into the damp, slippery pool area. I was afraid of a fall on the concrete or maybe getting a cramp while swimming. 

A wave of shame overpowered me the first time I walked into the pool area. A lifeguard, Karen, approached as I grappled with the handrail while easing into the pool. She made small talk until I was safely in the water. 

The water was liberating and I could exercise in a way I couldn't otherwise. Still, I quickly grew tired and could only swim a few laps. Karen was kind enough to give me some water weights so I could exercise my arms while wading back and forth in the deep water, getting the exercise I needed. 

When I finished, Karen met me at the steps. She allowed me the independence of walking up and to a nearby bench and we chatted. I knew she wanted to make sure I was able to walk to the dressing room, but still needed to rest.

I mentioned feeling vulnerable and embarrassed. She was so kind and encouraging that I soon felt at ease. What could have been a humiliating event was pleasant because of her kindness. Because of her, I continued to come to the pool to exercise.

If you asked her, she might say she was only doing her job. She might not think her kindness was anything out of the ordinary. Good people are like that.

ONE NEVER KNOWS

I saw another news report about the baby, Aniston Walker. As I wrote in my last blog post, the baby's death still haunts me. We are limited individuals. We don't know what's going on around us.

Sometimes I forget to stop, look about, and ask myself, "What's going on around me? How's the other guy's life?"

A few years ago I drove a route past one school to work at another. On my way to work, I regularly passed a particular crossing guard. She was a woman with a lot of pep, even early in the morning. Whether in the sunshine, rain, or frigid weather, she always had a smile on her face as she directed traffic.

I didn't suspect it at the time, but I later came to know that woman, and that all was not as it appeared.

That woman was a single mother raising two sons almost completely on her own. During that year I drove passed her on the way to work, her family lost their home and all their possessions in a flood. By the end of that year she was diagnosed with cancer.

--And all the while she smiled as she directed traffic before and after school.

I pray that I will be more sensitive, aware that those around me have needs. It may cause me to remember to say a prayer and offer a little kindness to those who cross my path.

CHANGES ARE COMING!

Circumstances in my life are changing. I have shared some of these changes in my little blog. Now it is time for that blog to change, once again.

I will occasionally give you some health updates, but 2 things have caused me to change the focus of this blog. One is the memory of Mrs. Ruth Wilburn, a great encourager. The other is the Make a Difference Monday, sponsored by the syndicated radio station, KLOVE.

Every Monday I found myself thinking, "What can I do today to make a difference in someone's life?" It is a good thing to ponder.

Sometimes making a difference is a thought that is so overwhelming that we dismiss the idea altogether. That is where I hope to help. I would like to encourage action and give a forum for people to share their experiences.

Let's begin sharing today.

I once organized a Sunday school class to have a monthly random acts of kindness. It really changed the lives of others, especially those who were doing the acts of kindness. It seems that doing good is medicine for the spirit.

Now it is your turn to share some of your experiences!