It’s Not All About Me

By Carin LeRoy –

My son works in a popular coffee shop, and the other day a lady walked in and ordered a drink. After completing the cup, my son handed it to her only to be assaulted with a barrage of complaints. He forgot to dribble the chocolate syrup over her whipped cream. He was shocked by the verbal outburst she displayed in the store. She took a simple omission and made a huge deal out of it at the expense and embarrassment of my son. Perhaps she experienced a rotten week, but her anger and rage were misdirected.

A polite response to the error would say, “You forgot my syrup. Could you please add that?”   Instead she found it necessary to cause a scene in the middle of a coffee shop, even calling the manager later to complain more. Graciousness did not seem to be a part of this woman’s character, and her actions show that life was more about herself than being polite. Her performance reminds me of a two-year-old having a temper tantrum.

We will encounter such people as we walk through life, but we can choose to act with courtesy toward them. Graciousness in answer to an uncomfortable response from others comes only as we respond to the Spirit of God. As our culture strays from the constraints of self-control and civility, we should be the people who stand out from the crowd. I am reminded of the verse that says, “A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NET). Let’s show a gracious spirit that displays courtesy toward others. Use your words to uplift rather than tear down. Kindness is like a boomerang; it always comes back to you.

PRAYER: Lord, give me a kind tongue and a gracious spirit as I encounter people today. Help me to stand out from the crowd as one who loves You. Give me self-control when I encounter a difficult situation.

“The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the heart of the wicked pours out evil things” (Proverbs 15: 28 NET).

Today’s devotional is by Carin LeRoy, wife to Dale and mother of three grown children and one almost-grown teenager. She has been a missionary with Pioneers since 1982. Her passions are family, missions, piano and writing to challenge others to live faithful lives for God.

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A lone boater caught my eye when my husband and I were in Florida months ago. We stood on a long pier from which tourists can fish for the curious, sun-speckled varieties the Gulf of Mexico offers. For a fee, tourists can rent a pole and use it to dangle something tantalizing before the nose of a fish. What camera-bedecked man or woman doesn’t want to land a lunker, a line-pulling, back-straining monster that might make its way to the photo Christmas card or the wall of the family room? Read more

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