It's Your Decision

From the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep at night, we have choices to make. We face hundreds of choices throughout our day, even if they're automatic ones, like getting out of bed. But I think the most important ones we make are how we treat people. Things like how we spend money, how we fix our hair, what we eat, and what we wear have some significance--obviously you wouldn't walk outside wearing a black trash bag and eat dirt for breakfast--however those things don't last very long or have much value. Money and possessions will all go away at some point. Your hair style will be totally messed up before the day is even over. Next week, you won't be able to recall what you ate this week. Tomorrow, no one will remember what shoes you were wearing today. 

But grudges don't go away nearly as easily as money and possessions. Difficulty in friendship doesn't disappear as smoothly as tangles in your hair do. You may not remember what you ate or wore the other day, but that person will certainly remember the insulting comment someone made about them. People remember how we treat them, they care about how we treat them--so we should care too. No matter what someone has done to you, or what you think you may know about them, they deserve your respect simply because of the fact that they are human. It's hard to ignore things that happened in the past, or what might happen in the future, but ask yourself, is it worth hurting someone simply for satisfaction that lasts for minutes? No matter how good you think it will feel to give someone a piece of your mind, or to get revenge, it will not turn out how you imagine. Guilt will gnaw at you, and you will feel regret at some point. 

I know from experience that at the heat of the moment, it's much easier just to make that rude comment, or yell at someone, or get upset, or make that frustrated gesture, or be impatient. It's hard to exhibit self control. It's hard to stop and think about the results. It's hard to push away your negative feelings about someone. It's hard to get over your embarrassment and apologize after you know you've said something wrong. But we need to do it anyway, because it's the right thing. Society is falling apart because we've forgotten how to conquer our impatience, anger, and spite--we've forgotten how to right the wrong. Or maybe we remember and purposefully don't do it, because we don't even care anymore. Either way, it needs to change. You can choose to make a person's day or ruin it, simply by what you say about them or do to them. You never know what someone is going through at that time, so you can't judge how you act towards them based on what they do. It's so much harder to take the kind, patient, loving route every time, but it's so much more rewarding. Isn't it kind of amazing knowing that you could make a person's day, boost their confidence, or even change their life, just by treating them with a little love? 

If you have trouble choosing the right action, try seeing it through the other person's eyes. Think to yourself: What could they be going through today? How would I be acting right now if I were in the same situation? How would I feel if someone insulted me when I was already having a bad day? How would I feel if someone regarded me with complete disrespect? How would I feel if someone called me [insert adjective]? The answers you come up with may change your mind. You might think at first, "But no, really, they..." "You have no idea how awful they are..." "Trust me, I know them better than you think". No--trust me. No one knows every little detail of a person's life. It's just not possible. So treat them just like you would treat your best friends. It's tough to accept, I know--but it will be worth it. 

When you finish reading this, please take a couple minutes to simply think. What has happened in the past that requires an apology or forgiveness? What should you choose to do in the present? What will you do in the future? I challenge you to remember that what you say, what you do, how you treat people, how you influence them, what impact you make on the world--it's your decision. 

"Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." ~Philippians 2:4~

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies , do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them...Do to others as you would have them do to you." ~Luke 6:27-29, 31~

--Love, Amanda