Ever care for someone… or reach out to do good for someone… and they just do not respond as you anticipated? You were kind-hearted or even extended a simple greeting and were quite earnest about it and they were snippy in return?
Typically, we are disappointed, and that disappointment pain morphs within milliseconds to anger and “never again”. And that moves us to, “they are a jerk…”
Sometimes we pause. And in that pause we may consider that maybe the person was in a bad place. Who knows – maybe they just were fired or had a disturbing issue with a family member or even a negative medical test. I mean folks do not typically seek to be unfriendly. Sometimes they might be that way, but that is not the usual state of affairs. It is worthy of contemplation to consider the expectations we have for folks and then our reactions when they do not live up to those expectations. The point which is even more worthy of contemplation is what is going on within us that we react to their snippiness in such a manner.
Makes one wonder if our actions are based on the anticipated reaction or whether it is a function of how we seek to be, who we are.
Jesus was kind and gracious. Many people did not embrace his attitude. Yet their reactions did not change him. He walked into the pain of their rejection. Did not change him. The resurrection symbolizes that kind and gracious is the Way of God. Love triumphs.
Don’t change, no matter how people react. Don’t change who you are called to be. Do not allow others to dictate who you are. It is not always easy. A pause and a bit of contemplation is good for the soul.