Try a Little Kindness

I was in one of our local McDonald’s recently, enjoying my food when suddenly a woman storms back to the counter yelling that they had made her food wrong. The employee apologized and made her a new burger….yes. A burger. She goes back to her table, sits down and opens her burger, then storms back to the counter, this time using much profanity, and tells them, “this time you’ll make me 2″!

I felt so sorry for the employee. Yes, surely the second time it should’ve been as the customer ordered, but goodness, they’re human. They make mistakes. The customer would have still have accommodated without the anger…without the profanity. I think everyone in the restaurant was looking, because  the angry words were THAT loud.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Proverbs 25:11

Doesn’t it just feel good when others are kind to you? When someone says an encouraging word? When someone looks at you sympathetically as you juggle your little ones in the grocery store? When you receive a smile? If someone holds the door for you?

As “It is more blessed to give than to receive”…..gifts are implied here, but I think WE ARE MORE BLESSED when WE show kindness…when WE encourage someone….when WE look kindly at someone instead of scowling or rolling our eyes…when WE give a smile-even if we don’t feel like it….when We take the initiative to be of help before asked.

My dad spent his last several years in a wheel chair as he had lost a leg due to diabetes complications. Many years before he lost his left arm below the elbow on the job, so using crutches was pretty much out of the question. In those  last years, I, (and other family members sometimes) took him to MANY doctor’s appointments.

In all those many trips of helping him in the car, loading his chair, unloading the chair and helping him into it, ONE person offered to help me. ONE. Now, I’m not complaining really….I would GLADLY do all this again for him if he were still alive. But it would have been nice and GREATLY appreciated to have had help. Wheel chairs are heavy and it was ALL I could do to get it in the back of the car and out again….as others walked by.

Sadder than that was that for a long time, mom still drove them to church….loading and unloading the chair…as men stood on the porch steps….and watched! She became physically unable to do it for very long…as well as discouraged.

I said all that to say….LOOK for ways to help and show kindness to others. If they turn you down…fine. You’ll be blessed for your offer.

Look for the mom who may seem…bewildered. Give her a compliment…a kind word….a smile.

Be courteous to your cashier. Hold the door for someone. We ladies can do that, too!

And never forget your own precious family! I once heard a preacher say that many times we are treat, and speak more kindly to others than we do those living in our own home!

Our husbands need to know we’re their #1 cheerleader! And our words to the little ones need to be just as kind as those words we speak to the children of others.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26

May we strive to show the Lord’s kindness to others!

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life….

…..but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

And to godliness brotherly kindness….

Put on therefore…..kindness….