But It's Important To Be Nice!

While clearing out my loft I came across an article I’d written in 1995 for our Church Magazine (hence the bible references). I felt driven to write it as I watched a neighbour of mine being ostracised by another, because she’d had a breakdown after giving birth. She’d suffered multiple miscarriages and the shock of successfully having a child late in life, caused the illness. She deserved support and empathy, not nasty comments and back stabbing. Things have moved on since then, but I feel in these hard times, it is as valid today as it was then, so I thought I’d share it with you... Life today always seems to be in the fast lane. Progress is often coupled with more pressures and stress, and people don’t have time for each other anymore. Families are parted in the search for work. Women give birth full of hope and happiness for the future, only to be struck down with post-natal depression. Cancer and other illnesses are prevailing and people who have worked hard all their lives are made redundant and left to feel like worthless failures. The list is endless and not always obvious. Take a look around you - there is someone you know who is suffering in some way. Although, I believe that it’s through suffering that we learn about life, and those who have not yet suffered and tend to take life for granted, have not yet lived, it does not always ease the pain. Sometimes life just seems sad and full of despair, but you can help to ease the pain for someone. manwaving-stockimages

How do you behave towards others? Are you guilty of listening to gossip and acting upon it without knowing the other side of the story? Do you make snap judgements of people you really know nothing about? ‘Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ (NT Matthew 7 v1-2) Are you unhappy with your own life and as a result try to control others or worse still, try to make them unhappy too? Why not sort yourself out and spread happiness not hurt? Swap an unkind word or deed with a kind one. Even a smile or wave costs nothing and can mean so much to someone who is feeling sad or alone. ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (NT Ephesians 4 v31-32) It's a shame that we can't all get on and live in peace, but we can make a small start. PS. Be the first to receive latest posts subscribe here Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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