What if?

Why is it that when you do something nice for some people... they really appreciate. So much so that they in turn do the nice thing for someone else?

But other people act like you OWED them the nice thing? Or like SOMEONE in the world owed them and you were just lucky enough to be the one who acted on it.

I hear people complaining all the time about how rude and selfish we as a society have become. And I wonder if they have looked in the mirror lately?

I am the type of person who will stop farther back from the light than I need to so that someone can pull into or out of a parking lot. I usually get honks and nasty glares from drivers behind me. Or... I stop, but nobody in the other lane does.

I hold doors for people... even if it means I have to wait an extra couple of seconds for them to get to the door. Sometimes these people don't even say "thank you".

I will offer rides to people in need. We once took a family home from an evening activity at church because I didn't want this mom and her 3 boys waiting for the bus.

I often give rides to a friend from church who isn't able to drive.

I am not looking for any sort of recognition for these things... just giving you an idea of where I'm coming from. Of course, some of you who read this blog already KNOW these things about me.

Am I perfect? Hell no! Do I complain? You betcha. And I am quick to bitch out another driver who is driving like a maniac.

But I still can't help but wonder. What if... what if instead of complaining about how selfish people have become... we all worked harder to become more selfless? Instead of complaining about how rude other people are.... we look at how rude WE are and work to change if we need to.

Imagine the world if EVERYONE did small acts of kindness for each other?

Blake used to run across the street to help a lady who lives there. She is elderly and uses a walker. He always wanted to help her... but she always sneered at him and shooed him away. When he outgrew his bike, the first person he thought of was her because he had seen her grandkids visiting and thought they might like a bike. When we went over to ask if she would like the bike "and not even have to pay for it" (Blake's words to her with a huge grin on his face) she sharply snapped, "No! We don't want that bike!" *sigh*

He took the bike to another neighbor who had a little boy who was too small for the bike but Blake figured he'd grow into it. That neighbor was just THRILLED and commented weeks later at how "kind" and "giving" Blake is. (He has since given quite a few outgrown toys to that little guy... and we see him riding them quite a bit).

What if the whole world were kind and giving? What if we didn't look at a person and instantly judge them by their clothes, their car, the color of their skin, the religion we assume they practice?

What if?