There was a line of people in the bank on a busy Friday morning. It was the first of the month. As seems to be normal there were only two tellers open. At the front of the line was a woman talking on her cell phone. Her turn came and she approached the teller still talking on the phone.
She handed the teller some papers and gave a few words of instruction about what she needed. As the woman continued to talk on the phone the teller asked several times for more details. It appeared as though the teller was interrupting the phone conversation.
When the woman’s banking was done the line had grown by several more folks hoping to quickly get there banking done so they could carry on with their day. The woman left the bank still talking on the phone.
As the next person in line went up to the teller she seemed in a hurry. She sat down and the first thing she said was ‘ can you believe that?!’ She was of course referring to the woman on the phone. ‘How rude!’ She said. The teller agreed and worked on the business at hand. The woman just kept on and on about the rudeness of the lady in front of her. At first everyone in the growing line fully agreed. Now however, they were hoping this woman would just move on and leave.
She finally stood up to leave and then turned back to the teller and began to comment on the rude customers she had encountered at various other places that morning.
The point of the this whole story is that as rude as everyone in that line felt the woman on the phone was they now felt the one going on and on about someone else’s ignorance was equally as rude.
We often say or hear the words, “it’s not about you.” In fact we tell our children this or our family or our friends at times. In that context they are meant to discourage selfishness or for someone to think of others first.
I believe we need to think of these words differently at times. Sometimes it is about you! When it comes to being courteous or helpful or kind to a fellow human being.
I know I am the first one guilty of only applying these words to others. It’s a harsh realization and humbling when I apply them to me. I need to ask myself each day whether I was kind that day or did I make someone’s day better or did I smile and give cheer to someone who may have felt down.
I’ve decided I wish to live by applying them to me first and work each day to show grace and kindness to everyone I come across. It will be hard at times and I will fail at times. But by the grace of God I will try again each day.
©Lisa Bueckert 2013
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
How true – I deliberately set out to do just that, help others, and realized that it was an automatic response to “walk through the door first instead of step aside and wait for someone else, etc.” It’s eye opening when you really think about it. Thanks for the reminder – I pray I will continue to get better at making sure I am doing my part to spread happiness instead of rudeness.
I am trying to think of how others see what I do as I’m out and about. I don’t want them to see me as rude or anything but kind and courteous.
After reading your blog I then went on to read this Col 3:12- those who have been chosen of God holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience.
I work to show these qualities to the people I see each day. Thank you.
Good point, Lisa. Good way to turn it around and apply to ourselves.
Thank you. It is different when we envision how we seem to those around us. We seem to see the errors of others way before we see ours.
Good article. Isaiah 58 tells us that the kind of fast the Lord requires of His people includes to stop pointing the finger. We need to start pointing the finger at ourselves and get our own lives on track before we talk about the faults of others, but so often we do it the other way around. This is a great reminder for every Christian to do a personal check-up. Thanks for sharing.
😊
Lovely post. Thank you.