Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.
~Author Unknown
~Author Unknown
Sunday I got to teach my 16-18 year old Laurels at church. And even though I LOVE them and I love teaching them, the topic I had chosen was a little tricky.
I taught about the power of words and kindness (or unkindness) and the effects we may not even know we have on others. Some of the things I'd witnessed happening over the last couple of months needed to change.
All the little jabs that end with "just kidding" may make people laugh at the time, but they have a really effect on people's lives. And sometimes that effect is very long lasting.
I really tried to emphasize the fact that we have no idea what is really going on in people's lives. Even those who look to us like everything is perfect - or at least fine - have heartbreaks and fears and disappointments, and we need to spend our time building each other up.
I think as followers of Christ, one of our biggest responsibilities is to help others feel His love, and the way we do that is by sharing what we know of it. Kinda hard to do if people don't want to be around you because they feel put down or gossiped about or unimportant.
It's just something that made me think a little bit more about the way I treat others. Especially when I feel impatient, or tired. I've made a new commitment to take a deep breath and try really hard to think before I talk.
Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves
something and has lost something.
~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
something and has lost something.
~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
9 comments:
What a good lesson. I remember that mormonad from my days in YW. I think sometimes we need this lesson in RS too.
I those quotes are great, I'm sure your lesson had a lasting impact on the girls. And if not, you gave me a great reminder.
That was brilliant! I'm the YW president in our small branch and I only have two girls. And they're sisters. We have a mini lesson on kindness farily often.
And it's so true about those "just kidding" remarks. They always sting, simply because the person thought that thing about you in the first place.
What a great lesson. I am a sarcastic person and this is something that I have to work on constantly. Especially online. I leave comments and then wonder if they will read it with the humor that was intended? Or will they take it seriously?? :S Guess I should just play nice all the time, eh?
What a great lesson. So true that we don't know what is going on in someone's life. I know I could do better.
I wish I could pass this along to a certain individual.
btw--I've taken my blog private for right now and I may keep it that way for awhile; we'll see. I still need to enter everyone's email address and such.
hi randi dear:
great great post. i love the points you make here. and the quotes are wonderful, too. i saved them in my book.
you always make me feel warm, cozy, and cared for with every email you send me. and i love the comments you leave me that praise.
you know how to treat people good. i can attest to that.
thank you friend,
kathleen :)
I haven't read your blog for a few days - how interesting that I posted something a couple of days ago and then removed it because I poked a little fun at a woman in my stake, but then I felt bad so I deleted it. I'm glad I did, because if I had left it and then read this post I would have felt like a SHMUCK!!
My sister has a deep insight regarding sarcasm:
Behind sarcasm there is alway truth
-and-
Behind anger there is always fear
They go hand in hand.
hey rand:
i used the meany quote of yours today in a conversation because it fit perfectly. thank for sharing the thing that helped get my point across in that conversation.
chow,
kathleen :)
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