Have Courage and be Kind

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV

That's a lot of pressure to put on one commandment. It's also a lot of pressure for a human. In a culture of self loathing, where everyone wants to improve themselves and the focus is all on self, there's not much left for others. But this is so important that this one act is the fulfillment of the law...the entire law! That's a pretty hefty price-tag.

I started a new job today. It's one that other more qualified people applied for. So how come I got the job? I was told it was partly because of my interview. I was confident, assured of myself and what I could bring to the job. The rest? How I had treated people in the past. You see, housing and community services people run in small circles. We all know each other and come back around to working with or for someone from a time back. When my potential employers called for references,  they called mutual people that I had worked with. They all spoke fondly of me, going so far as to say I was quietly competent.

My dad's favorite book other than the Bible was Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". He quoted it often. But it's a biblical principle that in practice looks a lot like just good old every day kindness.

So you see? It's not that tall an order after all. We all learned it in kindergarten...be nice but be genuine. Have courage and be kind. Treat others as you would yourself. I'm glad my daddy pounded that lesson in. I never want to knowingly hurt someone. I strive to treat others better than I expect. It's repaid in droves each and every day.

Learn it. Live it. Love it. Love others. Love yourself. Because you are loved.