I have a code, my code has always been the same word wise, but hasn't been the same strength wise.
"Be kinder than necessary."
Being kind is not a difficult thing to do, infact you can change someones life by holding a door, asking (with meaning) how there day is going, by saying thank you, by saying oops i'm sorry why don't you go first, by saying excuse me, by saying here you only have a few things why don't you go on ahead of me, by buying someones coffee behind you . Anyone of these little things go A LONG way. And what does it cost you.. not a thing. In fact it makes your wholoe day a different setting, a different level, a different atmosphere. It makes you want to do more, say more, achieve more.
You see I have always been a kind person first and if kindess wasn't shown back my mood and body language changed FAST. but ever since I have given up my own control and given my life back to God "kind" has had a completley different meaning. I can actually see kindness change a person right infront of my eyes.
For instance:
It was the week before Christmas and I found myself in the Second Cup line in the middle of a very busy, tense shopping mall. The lady behind the counter was very straight faced, short mannered, and cold. She hardly said hello she didn't break a smile and she was hardly making eye contact. The old me; would have thought i had done my "kind' part by saying hello and ordering in a polite tone and now it was time to just also be short, still in a not so mean tone. but I opted not to react that way.
Instead I insisted in getting her eye contact, i didn't break contact not for a second , I wanted to be SURE to grab her attention. Finally her gaze caught mine and I simply said " it sure is busy in here and I'm sure you can't wait to get home to your family. Thanks alot." .. she smirked and answered "you bet." .. so I continued with short blurbs asking things like, are you ready for Christmas? It's not as cold as usual ? Hope you have all your gifts for family bought.. etc. By the end of her getting our coffees ready she was actually LAUGHING and SHARING WORDS with me.. she had the biggest smile i have seen on someone in a long time. She was sure to wish us a merry christmas and tell us to have a good night. The transformation was worth the extra breaths and thinking it took me to ask a few simple questions... to actually genuinely CARE through kindness.
I often like to buy the persons coffee behind me in the coffee line as well. I like to get away quickly so they can't catch up to me or see where i drove off to. One guy even drove out of his way to pull up beside me and mouth "thank you" . and what did it cost me.. not much. But i bet if it didn't create a chain reaction, it sure created a smile on his face for a moment, an hour, maybe even the day.
You see everyone deserves kindness, EVERYONE even those soldiers that nailed Jesus to the cross, or that bum on the street who once had an office job but in this economy has no other choice but to beg for money because no one would take him for an interview because he hasn't had a shower in 3 months, the murderer in his cell who regrets fully what he has done and has sat alone and freightened for 25 years, the nosey neighbor who doesn't know another way of showing someone she cares , the teenager that can't count change correctly behind the counter because he has so many things at school on his mind , the child that bumped into you into the mall who was frantically looking for her mom or dad, the lady that cut you off today who is a single mom caring for her 3 little ones and juggling 2 full time jobs, the man who tails your car because his mind is preoccupied with his wifes funeral plans. These are all very real situations, and these people deserve kindness. We don't know there situation, there feelings, there burdens, there fears, the sacrifices they have made, the situations they are about to endure. But we do all know they are real people, with real feelings, real needs, and desires, dreams, and we can give them kindness. We can share what we have with them, we can give them hope for the day, or the year. We can make a difference, a little action, a dollar, a hello, a goodbye, a thank you, anything. I urge you to place yourself, your own feelings, stubborn behavior on the back burning for just a day, and watch it impact your heart, your spirit, and soul. Test yourself, test your sincerety, your heart. Be kinder than necessary today and post tomorrow what experiences you had, I would love to read them. ..
Maybe tomorrow you will make your own code, or maybe you want to stick with this one, but whatever you do, make a difference, for good, for better.
peace&love.mercy&grace
