Is that really how you want to start out the new year?
My husband and I decided to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast on News Years morning. Tim is a “drive-through” parker, searching the parking lot for the perfect drive-through spot. Located between to huge pickup trucks, Tim eased into the parking spot. He smiled a victorious smile. I rolled my eyes.
We squeezed out of the SUV, at which point, Tim had to duck under the side mirrors of the Ram Truck on his side. I rolled my eyes again. Such are the joys of the drive-through parker.
Tim took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. We passed an older couple on the sidewalk and realized, they were the owners of the red Ram truck. I glanced over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of the woman standing in the parking lot, hands on her hips, tapping her foot. “Really, of all the parking spots, you choose this one?”
Though I’m not “drive-through” parker and I don’t always get the logic behind the challenge, my husband had parked our vehicle perfectly in the spot. The SUV sat evenly between the lines. In essence, he’d done nothing wrong other than choosing to park next to this truck.
What do you do? I thought about turning around and wishing the irritated woman a Happy New Year. Or maybe going back and opening the truck door for her. Though both were well intentioned on my end, I’m afraid for this woman, the kind acts would have seemed snide. So, I walked ahead ignoring her sour response.
Sometimes our acts of kindness seem bittersweet to those who harbor unhappiness. Gentle acts of love are misunderstood and taken as insult. Even the kindnesses of God are sometimes taken as His turning His back on us, even when we know God works to prosper us and not harm us. The fact remains, we are at times, very selfish and most displeased when things do not roll the way we want.
It's a new year. A new day. Praise God for the kindness He has shown, even when you do not understand the purpose. Start out the new year in joy, gratefulness, and happiness. The choices we make today, set the pace for tomorrow, so don’t waste valuable moments. Grasp hold and praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Choose kindness – every time.
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Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.