In a long line at a late night convenience store and in a hurry I found myself expelling a deep sigh (along with several other people), when an elderly lady at the counter fumbled in her purse for exact change. One lady balancing three large handfuls of snacks actually said “Oh help me Jesus” aloud as she rolled her eyes. When it was finally my time at the counter the young cashier said “Sorry about the old lady, they are so slow”. His comment brought me up short. Why was he apologizing to me? Obviously I had made my irritation known. As I left the store I felt annoyed with myself for not extending kindness when given an opportunity to do so.

Love Thy Neighbor

When I was younger my grandmother would often say “Treat everyone with kindness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.” The idea to treat others the way you want to be treated is a tenet as old as time itself. The golden rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and Biblical text of “Loving thy neighbor” is taught in Sunday school to children of all ages, but it seems as we get older we forget the benefits of being kind to others. Mother Teresa, known for her kindness and life of serving others, may seem like the exception to the rule but in actuality we all have opportunities to make the world a better place by showing kindness to our fellow man.

A nursing student told the story of having a quiz her second year in nursing school. The last question was “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?” Thinking it was a joke she left the question unanswered. When the professor was asked if the question counted toward the grade he answered “Absolutely.” He went on to explain, “In your career, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention, and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.” The nurse learned the custodian’s name, it was Dorothy.

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