WHAT IS THE COST FOR BEING KIND
A couple of weeks ago, I messaged an acquaintance/friend and mentioned that I was out shopping and asked what she was up to. When she messaged back, her reply was short, curt, and not exactly friendly. I brushed it off and messaged back some helpful information that I thought she would like to know. Her response was, “good to know.”
With so much going on in the world at this time, why would something so minor bother me? My acquaintance/friend was not mean, she was polite, and she did at least message me back instead of ignoring me. So, why, two weeks later, is this small message thread on my mind?
When my daughter first moved to Alaska, she experienced similar situations. She said that the people she met were polite but not very friendly. I’ve found myself saying that recently when I’ve ventured out into this new community and tried to strike up conversations with other women. So far, they have been polite but not friendly.
When this happens, I leave the conversation feeling deflated. It feels like they are saying, “you’re not important,” or “you’re not worthy of my attention.” Either way, I feel almost like crying.
Luke 6:31
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Have we all become so busy, so hurried, so wrapped up in our own world that we forget how to be kind? Having a simple conversation, which is a two-way dialogue, is not hard or time-consuming. Most of us can spare a few minutes of our day to respond and at least “act” genuinely interested.
There are times when I find myself so wrapped up in what I’m doing that I feel myself not being fully engaged with the person I’m talking to. When I catch this, I will lay down my phone or shut my computer and try to give my attention to them. But, how many times have I been so wrapped up in my world that I gave someone the impression that they weren’t important?
1 Chronicles 19:2
2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
The good news is that we can change everything in the blink of an eye. If kindness is what we want, we should be showing kindness to others. If we are looking for friendly conversations, we should have that kind of conversation with others. Kindness is addictive, and when it is shown to you, you want to pass it on to others.
So, what is the cost of being kind? Nothing, it is free! It will only cost you a few minutes of your time, but it could make a huge difference in the person you are sitting with. Unless you are someone who bills by the hour, then it will cost you a lot. Lol!
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
P.S. I just saw you had a Be Kind picture at the beginning of your post! I was going to add that I feel the way you do about curt text responses. Maybe I’m too wordy (obviously) but I always craft a friendly response. The one I hate the most is “OK” to a text I have written in the past to people. It hurts my feelings as well.
Lol! Christine, we don’t ever need to talk on the phone, I’m wordy too, and I talk for hours.
I’m sorry to hear you’re experiencing that! I would talk with you! I always make conversation with people and some respond and others don’t. We have lived 21 years in the Minneapolis area. The saying up here in “Minnesota Nice” but I rarely encounter that. I have a shirt that I just wore today while vacationing in northern MN. It says “be kind” with a period. Keep trying Tania! You’ll find people who will respond eventually. ❤️
Thanks, Christine! I wear my heart on my sleeve and get my feelings hurt easily. Funny enough, I never get too frazzled when someone (very rarely) leaves an unkind comment on the blog. Go figure!
KIndness is always the way to go. Your friends curt response could have been due to the fact that she was busy, but still wanted to respond to you. She could have been visiting with others, been at work, or many other things. I think everyone is always too quick to take things personally. I know I am.
While the effect of what you experienced may linger, it may also linger with other person in quite the opposite way. Although we may not see the results, kindness leaves is mark, too!
I don’t feel badly if strangers don’t speak to me.
What I don’t understand is why a neighbor living directly across the street won’t say hello or wave. I have tried and may give up after 6 years.
Someone told me she has had a rough life, but still?
I guess I will have to start ignoring, but it’s just not me to do that.
I’m lucky to have super close friends and sister living nearby but I guess the neighbor could be shy.
I loved this post. I try to say to my granddaughters every time I’m with them and hugging them “be kind.” That is a message we need so much.