The awesome power of kindness and compassion
“Be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.“
--John Watson (pen name: Ian Maclaren)
I have read this quote many times over the years and it always makes me pause and think.
Every human being on planet Earth is fighting some type of battle, and while another person's battle might not be apparent others, to that person it is very, very real.
Like everyone else, I have my own challenges to struggle with and at times they can take a heavy toll. But the challenge the person next to me is struggling with could well be much more difficult than my own.
It's human nature to get upset when someone says or does something out of line, and I'll admit that I find it hard to just brush some things off and move on with a smile.
But I try. I don't always succeed, but I try.
I believe a little compassion and understanding can go a long way towards making the world a better place.
The next time someone cuts me off in traffic or jumps to the head of my line at the grocery store checkout, I hope I'll be able to defer to whatever battle that person might be fighting on that day.
Are those things rude and inconsiderate? Of course.
Do they upset me? I'd be lying if I said they don't.
But what if that person is running late for an appointment with their cancer doctor and they're expecting to receive a report from a very important test?
Or what if they just lost a dear loved one and they're in a hurry to get to the funeral?
Human nature being what it is, chances are the person is just being rude and inconsiderate. Like it or not, there are lots of rude and inconsiderate people in the world.
The thing is, rude and inconsiderate people are fighting battles too. They may well be battles of their own making, but they are battles nonetheless.
I do realize that someone else's struggles aren't my problem, especially if those struggles were self-inflicted. But I've had people show kindness and grace towards me when I've been rude and inconsiderate in the past. The least I can do is try to treat others the same way.
My intention isn't to "preach" here. Like I said above, I don't always succeed when I try to show a little grace and understanding when I feel that I've been wronged in some way. But it's always good to try.
To finish up, here's one of my favorite songs about the importance of friendship - a simple, yet powerful by-pr0duct of kindness. I have shared this song before but I believe it's appropriate here as well.
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Great thoughts! I have spent much of my writing career honoring the courage and sacrifice of Canada's veterans. A number of them have told me over the years about how so many people have no idea what they went through. Some even look down on them if their time in the service took its toll on them. We see them on the street and have no idea what they've been through. It prompted me to write this article that has been reprinted many times: https://tomdouglas.typepad.com/tom_douglas/2007/05/just_some_old_g.html
Thank you. For you:
By Unknown:
As a group of frogs were traveling through the woods, two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs crowded around the pit and saw how deep it was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them.
However, the two frogs decided to ignore what the others were saying and they proceeded to try and jump out of the pit.
Despite their efforts, the group of frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should just give up. That they would never make it out.
Eventually, one of the frogs took heed to what the others were saying and he gave up, falling down to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.
He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?”
The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
More like this here: https://tritorch.substack.com/p/the-inconceivable-power-of-your-encouragement