kindness

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

-Albert Schweitzer



i was telling johan about this woman at work yesterday. i was moved to the cubicle next to hers for that day because my computer wasn't hooked up yet. so i brought all my junk and was set to sit down, when she came over. this is how the conversation went:

lady: "i need to get into that space in about 5 minutes. is she going to be here all day?!"
my supervisor: "yes, she's going to be here all day."
lady: "well i need to get into that cubicle and unload all these boxes that are sitting there and i need that space." (there were like 30 some boxes on the table.)
my supervisor rolled her eyes and she just walked away leaving me there to fend for myself. i walk back to my cube to grab the rest of my stuff and when i get back she's opening up the boxes already.

me: "do you need some help? i can help you out if you'd like."
lady: "sure!"

that was it! after that it was like i was her bff. she was so nice to me. she asked me wat my name was and if i was a summer intern. when i went to lunch, she came around the cube and asked wat i was eating because it smelled delicious. she even offered me one of her "trashy" magazines to look at while i ate. (thank goodness it was just an OK! magazine lol. i was a little frightened when she asked if i wanted to look at one of her trashy magazines.)

i guess my point is that when you display kindness to people, it can turn anger and frustration and hate around pretty quickly (in some circumstances). this lady did a total 180. she was all mad and upset because i was taking up HER space when she NEEDED to get in there and unload these boxes. i was going to make HER day rougher by sitting in that cubicle and she was NOT going to have any of that!

but as soon as i offered to help open those 30 boxes with her, man, it was like she just started glowing! haha. the work went by faster and she and i were both able to get back to our regular work without fighting over desk space.

johan wondered why i didn't shove it back in her face, like "oh yeah, well just 5 mns ago, you were mad as heck at me and now wat?!" haha. but i told him that doesn't solve anything. who knows why she was having a bad day? maybe something happened at home? maybe something similar happened in the past and she had a bad experience? who knows? maybe she just has a bad temper?

but i DO know that i have the power to control how i deal with it and wat i say to make the situation better. its such a small deal, but i could have just sat at my chair and let her rip open 30 boxes on her own. since i offered to help her i suddenly became her new friend. =)

sometimes we have to try and be kind with clenched teeth and muttered comments under our breath. but aren't we the same when someone else displays kindness upon us? we just melt and can't help but feel happy. i know i feel that way whenever someone extends a helping hand or when someone says something nice to me thats unexpected.

be kind to others. especially when they don't deserve it. God is still teaching me this virtue.