People seem “edgy”, short tempered!
Maybe the testy, hot, “dog days of summer” are taking their toll…. Maybe the adverse political environment is spilling over into our everyday lives….. Maybe our overcrowded calendar brings undue and unreasonable pressure upon us…. Or maybe “summer vacations” are just not what they were cracked up to be.
Whatever the case, I think we need to take a deep breath and put the stressful, judgmental situations into a “Bigger Perspective”.
Why? Because we just never know…. “Give grace. You never know where someone is in God’s story”. – Gayle DeSalles
Instead of the response thinking, “how stupid of him”, “I can’t believe that she said that to me”, or “you want what? “When?” Perhaps these are just the “G-vites from God that we should be on the look out for ? Let’s respond to these “G-vites ” by practicing “COMPASSION”.
Mother Teresa “got it”. She LIVED in the bigger picture. Here are the words that were written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s room in Calcutta:
“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best always.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
Especially during these days when you might find yourself at the end of your patience rope, remember Mother Teresa’s admonitions and give ‘em all a break, ANYWAY!
