Friday, February 21, 2014

Gentle.

There is someone you’re going to pass today that is having a hard time.  They might not know how to cope with the feelings they are having, and as a result the passing might not be kind.

Be gentle.

There is a person that you work with that’s family member is going through cancer treatments.  You don’t know that.  They are quieter than usual.  You want to tease them for being so quiet.

Be gentle.

There is a mother at the grocery store who is going to bump your cart and mumble an apology under her breath, that may not seem sincere…but her mind is her child.  She is overcome with worry.

Be gentle.

There is a person who is going to spout uneducated things about your condition.  You’re going to want to yell and use bad words. You’re going to want to strangle them.  But the truth is, no one has ever told them the truth.

Be gentle.

There is a driver on the road who is going to cut you off, and another one that is going to flip you off.  They are late for work.  If they are late again, they might be fired.  They can hardly pay their bills as it is.

Be gentle.

There is a person on Facebook who is going to say something you disagree with.  They are going to say it in a way that is going to feel personal. 

Be gentle.

There is a family member that is going to bug you today.  They are going to say all the wrong things.  They are going to try to burn bridges.  They are scared too.

Be gentle.

There is a blogger who has lost her husband.  She is angry that she is vulnerable.  She doesn’t know how to feel and wants to hide.  But she can’t.  She must walk around like everything is fine.

When you see her, be gentle.

Every person is fighting something.  Every person has opposition.  Every person has their own way to deal with things.

Not everyone deals with things the way you would.

Not everyone feels the way you feel.

And everyone, for the most part, wishes they could handle it all better.

When you see someone having a hard time, or acting in a way that is unbecoming…

Remember, we are our worst critics.  Generally, they know they are doing it.  Generally, they aren’t happy about it either.

But if they run into someone who is gentle?  Someone who forgives?  Someone who is kind?

It can change everything.


Today, I’m going to try hard to be more gentle.  

And then tomorrow, I'm going to try again.

13 comments:

  1. whew...yes. thank you for this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very, very nice. And a very important message, too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Simply Perfect.
    We all get too caught up in the moment instead of considering what others are going through.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I need to read this every morning. And don't forget to be gentle with yourself too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. There aren't enough likes for this... Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love you!! I think you always do a great job at being gentle.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice writing, Meri.
    Have you seen this?
    http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0JMJBCNU

    ReplyDelete
  8. me too Meri...I tell my boys to "assume the best" in others, when one makes an error to not assume that the person did it to hurt you and be unkind but give them the benefit of the doubt that it was just that an error. So, today and tomorrow and the next day I will continue to try my best to be gentle.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is easy to forget that most things don't matter in my life. If someone cuts me off I try to let it go and remember that in a few seconds I will never interact with this person ever again. If someone says something that would hurt if they knew me, but the don't, so it doesn't. I try to smile no matter how my day is going. My smile might be the link that makes someone else smile and maybe stops that person from hurting themselves or others. There have been times in my life where I know that I did not respond the way people expect and I try not to be the negative person in the equation.

    It is hard but all you have to do is think before you feel. Ask does it matter and will it matter a few seconds from now.

    I lose a lot of sleep for my little guy and have had a rough year non-diabetes related (the worst year ever). Be Gentle and think first. You never know when you touched someone that had the worst year ever and they need a smile to keep going. Here is a smile you you Merri. : )

    I read your blog often and it is nice to see how you cope. You have a lot of strength and you show it everyday. The bad stuff fades and the good stuff is replaced by more good stuff everyday. Bad stuff will still happen but look for the good stuff.

    Be that person that thinks first.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Words can not even express how much I love you. Thank you, my gentle friend.

    ReplyDelete

Comments=Love
Moderation now enabled, so comments will not immediately be seen.