You don’t have to be a writer to tell your story. In fact, you don’t even have to speak to communicate your life. You only have to live it.
Be kind to one another. More people are watching than you realize… (Tweet that)
Have you ever publicly disciplined your children knowing you might have sounded a little too harsh? Have you ever given your husband a look, in front of others, that wasn’t exactly one of love and adoration? I have.
I consider myself to be a kind person and rarely lose my temper in traffic jams, slow grocery store lines, or even during black Friday shopping. I know, right!?! However, one day I wasn’t so kind, and I learned a valuable lesson.
I want to tell you about a time I “lost it.” It was around 15 years ago. I had opened a new bank account and needed to transfer funds from one account to another. I spoke with a bank employee over the phone who told me the money had transferred. (Wow, that last sentence sounds like I lived in Andy and Barney’s Mayberry. Do you remember back when we actually dealt with people instead of constant computers?) Since I was assured the money was in the new account, I decided to spend some. (I don’t remember the purchase; my best guess is that I bought shoes. Oh, how I love shoes.)
Anyway, when I realized the funds hadn’t transferred and the bank had given me false information, I called them. The woman on the phone apologized and assured me the situation had been rectified. Then, it happened again! This time, my kindness somehow “flew the coop.” I went to the bank in person to express my disappointment. Let’s just say I was not even a little bit nice to the teller.
No sooner had I finished my rant with the woman behind the counter did another employee of the bank walk over to us. She hadn’t heard my temper tantrum, but she had heard me sing the previous Sunday at church. Mmmm hmmm. Yep, that’s what I said.
We attended a large church and she recognized me.
She wanted to tell me, right in front of the woman I just yelled at, how much I ministered to her. I wanted to die right then and there. Just recalling this story shames me. However, it’s on my heart to tell you this today…
Every word you speak and action you express tells your story. Whether you realize it or not, someone is watching you. It might be your husband, children, friends, neighbors, or even the lady at the bank!
I recently read the book of Ezra. The following scripture stuck with me…
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
-Ezra 7:10
Here is what I love: Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord and then he did it. That makes me think twice before I act or react in any way that is displeasing to God and unkind to those around me. I must prepare my heart and live in a way that is acceptable to Him.
It wasn’t acceptable for me to speak unkindly to the woman at the bank. It was only money and God is so much bigger than a bounced check.
And guess what? He is bigger than whatever it might be that is upsetting you today, too!
Food for thought: If you had to sum up the last 24 hours based on your actions, what would your story say?
God bless you!
Jennifer
