Speaking Kindness

It was a nice morning – sun was shining, birds were singing.  Everything was right in the world.  I was headed to the grocery store.   There weren’t many people in the store, just a few of us shopping and many young adults stocking the shelves and a few managers walking around.  Then I heard it, and it literally stopped me in my tracks.  A manager was yelling at a young associate.  He wasn’t coaching him on how to do his job better.  He was demeaning him in front of his coworkers.  The manager’s anger was not hidden, and he was going to ensure this young associate knew it!  My heart broke for the young person.  This was probably his first job, and this is how he was being treated.

I finished my shopping, reflecting back on the scenario that I had experienced.  I got to the car, loaded my groceries and couldn’t leave the parking lot.  Someone needed to stand up for that young person.  Maybe it was the mother in me.  Maybe it was the HR professional in me.  Either way, I needed to say something.  I went back into the store and asked to speak to the store manager.  I had looked at both the manager and the associates’ name badges and proceeded to share with the manager what I saw.  He stated that he would definitely speak with the manager.  Yet, I couldn’t help thinking about it all day.

Could I have done something different?  Should I have stepped in right in that moment?  I believe there were better ways I could have handled the situation.  Yet, it reminded me of today’s focus verses.  Our words can be so damaging.  Not just WHAT we say, but HOW we say it.  Our words can have tones of bitterness and anger.  Our facial expressions can share rage.  Whether we are speaking TO someone like this or ABOUT someone like this, all of it is not needed.  It doesn’t help; it only brings frustration. 

Speaking in kindness and compassion is Jesus’ way – and needs to be our way, my way.  Ensuring we speak in words and tones of forgiveness and not malice.  Catching our tongues when gossip may be ready to fly from our mouths.  All of it is not necessary.  We can share disappointment with people, but when it turns to slander, we have crossed the line.  It doesn’t benefit anyone.  It certainly doesn’t benefit who we are speaking with.  When my behavior has crossed the line, and it unfortunately has on more than one occasion, the Holy Spirit inside of me reminds me that this is not how Jesus wants me to act.  May we remember this the next time unkind words are ready to cross our lips – may we not cross the line to slander but pray to ourselves and stay on the right side of the Holy Spirit! 

Holy Spirit, on this Pentecostal Sunday, I ask that you live within me and always provide me words of kindness and compassion, with forgiveness in my heart – not anger and malice.  Amen!