WW: Do good anyway.

Happy Wednesday y'all!

[caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Okay this isn't us, but it looks like what we do, so here ya go.[/caption]

This week I was at my stroller class at the park (yes, it's a workout, with your child, in the stroller, at the park, and it's friggin hard). As we were going along this lady who was walking her dog in the opposite direction walked up to our instructor and started yelling at her for the strollers taking up too much room on the trail. Now, mind you, there was an empty trail to the side, but that didn't seem to matter. Our instructor was very gracious and apologetic. This woman kept yelling at her, not letting it go...and I was mad! I was very close to telling this woman to relax and move on down the road. I told my instructor how impressed I was with how she handled herself and she said very positively "you don't know what kind of life she has lead or what kind of day she is having."

Boy, is she right. And, wow, what a total gut check on my part. How often do you encounter a grumpy stranger? On the road, in the grocery store or airport, it happens all the time and it is so easy to give it right back to them or make a smart remark. But, hello!? What does that accomplish? And as a Christian, is that how I want to treat people? Well of course it's not.

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

No matter how people treat me, strangers or not, I can't control their behavior. What I can control is how I choose to react, in kindness or anger. Because, truth be told, I don't know their story or what life is like or has been like for them, so ultimately...why make it worse?

"Know this, my brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..." -James 1:19

So this week, I'm reminded me to "do good anyway." To give people the benefit of the doubt, and choose kindness over anything else.

[caption id="attachment_592" align="aligncenter" width="4272"] And a pic of Cooper in his Broncos uniform (win a game Romo, and he'll be back in blue), because...well why not really?[/caption]

Happy day y'all!
Lauren