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No matter what we go through, no matter the challenges and trials in our
path, we will always have the ability to simply be nice to those around
us. It doesn't matter if we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders,
we can still treat others with love and respect and show them the love of
the Lord that is within our hearts. Why do I say we should be nice? I
say it because everyone around us is fighting some sort of battle.
Everyone has trials and tribulations that affect their attitude and they
sometimes aren't quick to be nice to us. They may say something rude,
they may be inconsiderate, they may treat us harshly, but that shouldn't
affect how we react to them. Our response should be made with kindness,
with love, with empathy and with a deep and assured knowing that that
person needs to be lifted up. (Luke 6:31-36)
Someone might say why should I be nice to someone who is rude to me? The
simple answer is because it is to your benefit. How? When we return
kindness for rudeness, show love for hate and treat someone kind when they
are mean to us, we are simply stating that we will not give away our
happiness. We will not give up the joy that is within our hearts simply
because someone else is trying really hard to steal it from us. It is
within our ability to either act in a godly manner or in a fleshly manner.
It is easy to pay back evil for evil, but who will be made better because
of it? Certainly not yourself. So why give away your peace, your joy,
your serenity? (Romans 12:4-18)
When we go out of our way to keep our peace and joy and to show kindness
for rudeness, we are not only keeping our own peace, but we are also
changing the attitude and outlook of that one who crossed our path. We
may not see it for ourselves, they may not show it to us, but deep down
within them, your good works will stay with them and they will reflect on
how they acted. Won't it be wonderful that your testimony of love, mercy
and grace will live on in the hearts of others? Won't it be great to keep
your joy and peace and not give it away just because someone else is
having a bad day? (Matthew 5:38-48)
I wholeheartedly encourage you to reevaluate how you react to rudeness.
The Lord Jesus tells us to "Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Let
your life be a shining and gleaming example of love and hope, of
forgiveness and mercy and with your whole heart make it a mission to treat
others as you would like to be treated. When you simply react in love, your
joy will never leave you and your peace which surpasses all understanding
will envelop you all the days of your life. (Matthew 5:16) (Philippians 4:57)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to always react in
kindness and always treat others as you would like to be treated.
GARBAGE TRUCK
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let
a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your
day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back
on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly
they can get back their focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New
York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took
off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all
of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of
us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other
car’s back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,
whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi
driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So,
I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and
sent us to the hospital!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I
now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”
Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full
of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage
piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump
it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.
You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking, how
often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take
their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, on the
streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore." I began
to see garbage trucks.
Like in the movie “The Sixth Sense,” the little boy said, “I see Dead
People.” Well, now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they're carrying.
I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it
a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this
every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the
ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to
make the next play his best.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good
parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school
with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully
present, and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line
is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.
What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let
more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's
too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... Love the people
who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.
By David J. Pollay
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Luke 6:35-36 Jesus declares “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye
shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful
and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Galatians 6:1-4 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work,
and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Psalm 20:6-7 “Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear
him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some
trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of
the LORD our God.”
Romans 12:15-18 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them
that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things,
but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of
all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with
all men.”
2 Timothy 4:5-8 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready
to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto
all them also that love His appearing.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: YOU ARE IMPORTANT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem134.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD IS FAITHFUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony118.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
