Photo by am4ndas
Sometimes being nice can be a tall order. Of course, it’s rather easy when all
is well, and others are being nice to you. The challenge comes when things
aren’t really working out the way you’d like, or when others are being less
than nice to you. What do you do in those cases?
Well, if you’re human, you’ve probably done your fair share of not being very
nice at times. If you have chosen a life of walking with God, those instances
should become fewer and fewer.
It takes a lot of character and self-control to be nice when others aren’t being
so nice to you, or life is dealing you a tough hand. I can tell you I failed miserably
at being nice not too long ago when I was dealing with a blown engine.
Well, because of what I felt was a car companies bad warranty policy, any
unfortunate employee that had to deal with me, was not experiencing my nice side.
I was stressed, I was aggravated, and I wanted everyone there to know it.
Instead of following Solomon’s admonition in Proverbs I did just the opposite,
and strove with people who had done me no harm.
Proverbs 3:30 says, “Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you
no harm”. Well, although the company is still at the top of my “you know what
list”, the people on the phone had done me no harm, and didn’t deserve my ire.
I’ve reflected on that a lot lately, and hope to be a better example of a godly
man next time.
Have you ever ordered something on line and have the wrong item sent to you? How
did you act? Were you calm and friendly on the phone while straitening things
out, or did you tell them just how inept they and the company were for sending
the wrong item? I’ve done both and found people to be much more helpful when I
was nice life throws me a curve ball.
The saying you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar is true; and we
would all find our lives filled with much fewer arguments, less stress, and more
joy if we would all be a little nicer.
So what can we all do to be a little nicer when in a challenging situation?
1. We can all take a moment and think before we speak, it takes practice, but
can be done, and pays huge dividends.
2. We can put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and try to see things from
their perspective.
3. We can practices being nicer in tough situation by visualizing challenging
scenarios and see ourselves acting in a better way.
4. We can talk to God at the beginning of our day and ask Him for His peace
which surpasses all understanding so we will be prepared when those challenging
times come.
5. Or you can do as I’ve been doing lately, and tell yourself all throughout
the day to be nice. When someone whips out in front of me in traffic, I bite my
lip a little and tell myself to be nice. When someone does something I don’t
like I tell myself to be nice. The funny thing is as I’m doing this, I’m really
starting to feel nicer and happier, and much more able to deal with those less than ideal situations.
Just food for thought!
May God’s peace be upon you, and may you find yourself being nicer to all.
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