In a world that is filled with unkind people, why
not be kind? It costs you nothing. I
consider myself relatively nice, so whenever I have a run in with someone mean,
unpleasant, or just straight up rude, it blows my mind. I’m not pretending I’m
perfect, because I’ve had days when I didn’t feel like being kind, but I tried my best to work through it and do
better. It amazes me the way some people treat people sometimes, and I wonder
how many people grew up knowing the Golden Rule? You know, treat others the way you want to be treated. I think many people
may have missed that and it definitely shows. I can personally testify that
the Lord has tested me many times in this area, just to help me improve my
character. It’s not easy being kind in an unkind world but as a believer, it’s
often necessary to do so. It’s a
kingdom representation thing. But if I can keep it real for a moment –
sometimes, some people piss me off so bad I actually want to flip stuff over,
however, I can’t do that. I’m certain the Lord wouldn’t be pleased. While I’d
like to imagine a world where most people are kind, I’m realistic about what
I’m up against. So, when you go out into the world today, be kind, whether you
may feel like it or not. You’ll be
doing yourself and others a tiny favor that can make a huge difference.
As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...