I have a sticker on the back of my car that says, "Be
Kind," but I don't always live by it. I cut people off, I neglect to use my signal, and I am known to follow too closely. What’s worse,
though, is that I see people all the time that need help, and
the best I do to help them is think, “Man, I wish I had time to help them,” as
I speed by. I'm usually driving too fast to notice someone in need, and when I
do I'm usually too focused on myself and where I need to go to turn back and
help. Sometimes, to be honest, it's simply because helping is inconvenient and uncomfortable, and I don't feel like it.
I watch you help people all the time, though, whether you feel like it or not. When we're hungry
and in a hurry to get some food, you make time to help someone get their car to
a gas station. Instead of getting impatient when you're picking me up, you say
it’s a good thing you were waiting on me because it gave you time to give
someone a jump. You live those words way better than I do, and you don't need a
sticker on your back window to remind you to “Be Kind”.
We were in a hurry today. I made you late, and you were annoyed.
You were driving fast and getting frustrated with other drivers. You made a U-turn
and pulled to a stop. I was confused until I saw the flashing hazards of the
vehicle in front of you. You got out of your truck and spoke for a moment with
the driver whose car was stopped in the middle of a busy street. Then you
pushed her car off the road, up a hill, by yourself. It took a couple of
minutes for other drivers to follow your example, but eventually some got out
of their cars and helped as well.
Every time I see someone walking in the rain or in the heat I want
to pull over, ask them where they're headed, and give them a ride even if it’s
a half hour out of my way. I did stop for someone one day, shortly after I met
you. Her car had overheated and died. A jump didn’t work so I gave her and her
baby a ride home. I was so proud of myself it was ridiculous. I called you to
tell you the reason I was running late because I wanted you to be proud of me
too. That’s not the way it works with you, though, I realized. Today when we were
late and your dad made a comment about it, you didn't say why. You didn’t blame
me, and you didn't puff up your chest with pride and tell him about the driver you stopped to help. You just said, “Yeah, sorry about that,” and moved on.
I've witnessed many examples of this kindness and humility. You
brush off the subject when I tell you how impressed I am by you, how much your
selflessness blows me away. You don’t realize that I've watched people preach
the words without living them my entire life. Other people with “Be Kind”
stickers or K-LOVE stickers or Jesus fishes on their cars, including me, drive by
people in need every day. See, I was taught to look to the needs of others
instead of your own and to give in secret so that no one but God would know of your
kindness and to help people in need, especially when it costs you something. I
memorized Bible verses that didn’t encourage such things but commanded them.
Yet, I haven't seen many live it out like you do. You are not about the words,
you are about truly living the golden rule.
You told me yesterday you try to live by the wise and eloquent
words, “No one likes an asshole,” and that you do your best to think about how
you would want to be treated and treat others that way in all circumstances.
Thank you for trying to live that out. Thank you for thinking of others before
and instead of yourself. I’m glad you don’t talk a good talk but that you walk
a damn good walk. You've reminded me that it’s not so important to say the right things or to look good to other people but to do good. One of my favorite books is called Love Does, and the author’s simple message to the world is, “Love
people. Do stuff.” He talks about how actions are the most important thing about
a person and that the world needs more people who, when presented the opportunity
to do something good for another person, just do it. They don't weigh the cost
or speed by. We need more people like you who take every opportunity to go out
of their way for someone else. Thank you for being that type of person. When I
tell you you're that type of person, thank you for shrugging it off and acting
like it’s nothing but like it's just how everyone should act. Thank you for the example you've set for me and others. Thank you for living my sticker.
