Kindness part 5
Here's what I'm talking about when I try to communicate the idea of receiving and releasing... receiving BY releasing; I'm talking about experiencing the thing you're giving away. And that way truly experiencing it. Because when you're wrapped up, preoccupied, in getting something... you miss out on what you already have. I've been using my current kidney stones/losing my voice debacle as an example. Now, I DID have my family wrap their arms around me and take good care of me. The outpouring of kindness--even from an unexpected source--was amazing. But let's say none of that happened. Let's say I had to do it myself. Figure it out myself. Because, guess what, I've been there too. I've had situations where I asked for help and didn't get any. When you go through this life you have tribulation. That's part and parcel to living. But here's what I'm trying to say to end this Rant series: In either situation, you can let what's going on dictate to you--you can let what's going on get into you--or you can dictate to what's going on. You can let what's really in you get out. You can either be a thermomether, or a thermostat. You can take the temperature, and let any and every thing else get you hot under the collar... or you can set the temperature. You can let getting no help turn you bitter, or you can turn it around and make sure you're there to give someone help when THEY need it. Because you know what it feels like to be on the other side. Be the person you needed when you were younger, right? Probably why its so important to me to help people. Probably why one of my catchphrases is, "I've got your back." But you can't just say that. You have to put your money where your mouth is. You have to actually BE there for people. And here (again) is what I'm trying to say. It doesn't matter if people were there for you or not. You don't release what you've received FROM PEOPLE. You release what you've received from your heavenly Father. You let what's inside come out. If nobody helped you... you know what that feels like and you can make sure someone else doesn't. OR. If someone HAS helped you out... you know how great that is and you can pay it forward. So it doesn't matter what happened. It matters what you learn from what happened. All things work together for good. Even when, in the moment, it doesn't seem so good. Doesn't feel so good. You can still, as Daniel Tiger says, "Turn it around, and find something good." Whether you've experienced unkindness, or kindness, or both, or neither... you can still be kind. Because God showed us His grace through His kindness. There's nothing more holy than loving people. And there's nothing more kind than showing someone grace, and mercy, and forgiveness. Being who YOU are no matter what's going on around you. And you can only BE who you are when you KNOW who you are. When you let Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body... God in YOUR flesh, love in YOUR body--reveal Himself to you, and in you, and through you, and as you. And it starts with (not so) random acts of kindness...