Being Kind to One Another

Yesterday as I went to the store, at the checkout lane next to mine, a boy was crying for candy.  The mother said a simple no and continued checking out. The boy proceeded to have a fairly mild temper tantrum. As I checked out in the lane next to theirs, the bagger and the checkout person made comments about how the mother needs to discipline her child and how that child is so annoying. It broke my heart to hear.

I explained to them both that no amount of discipline is going to keep a child from having a tantrum. The fact that the mother did not give the child the candy was discipline. Giving a child everything that they want is creating entitlement and setting them up for future problems. Besides, we are all born sinners.  Thankfully by God's grace and love, we've been forgiven. I told them that we all have bad days, even as adults. And that there are adults that act worse than that child's tantrum. Instead of saying judgemental remarks to one another, we should come alongside others and see how we can help. Perhaps, she could use an extra hand getting the groceries to the car. Or a few words of encouragement that she is a good mother along with a high five.

It makes me sad that others want to say discouraging remarks to others. It makes me sad when we don't offer to help others who are having a rough day. It makes me sad that when a child is crying, that society says children are annoying instead of  viewing it as a learning opportunity.

As a mother, I have been there. I discipline my children but they have acted out at the most inopportune time. I am sure others viewed me as a terrible parent. But what others haven't seen are the books I read to them often about character. Others do not see the love, hugs, and  heart conversations we have every day. Others do not see the sacrifices made on a daily basis. Others do not see what the child is like most of the time.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Be kind to one another and build each other up.

Let's all come together to be kind. Saying a kind word or sharing a smile goes a lot further than criticism.  That little bit of joy can really go far with another person. You never know what battles they may be facing that day.