Holding It All Together – Be Kind, Seriously
By Amy McCollom
Several years ago I started seeing all of these t-shirts, posters, words painted on windows; Be Kind. Schools put up Be Kind bulletin boards, had Be Kind weeks, and more and more Bee Kind play on words evolved for the fun of it.
I get it. Bullying at schools had gotten way out of hand and kids were killing themselves right and left, so something had to be done. I agree that something drastic had to be done. Kids can be real jerks to other kids. Almost everyday when I drop my twins off at school, I see a young boy kicking the crap out of the shins of other students standing near him. He’s laughing and having a good ole time, but the kids getting kicked in the shins I’m sure aren’t enjoying the bruises they are getting.
One of these mornings, if I’m having a rough day, I may have to stop the car and give that kid a piece of my mind. But then I will probably need bail money, so there’s that. I was bullied when I was a kid, so I hate seeing kids doing it to someone else. Teachers and school staff, please keep an eye on what goes on out front of the school before the bell rings. Catch that little booger and put a stop to it. I really don’t want to go to jail for doing the right thing.
Be Kind. It’s good in theory. Teach kids to have compassion, raise their emotional IQ, make being kind fun, give awards for being good like a Pavlovian response to a bell, per se. Send them home and hope they don’t taunt someone to “death” on social media.
If only all adults could be taught kindness and the benefits of it too, maybe this world would be a better place. Oh wait, that is what churches are for, and last I heard, church going is at an all-time low. Still, Be Kind. And bring your family back to church.
Did you laugh at or repost a Bernie Sanders mitten meme? How would you feel if you were Bernie Sanders mom and the world was making fun of him? I wonder how Bernie feels about the world taunting him; an old man sitting on a cold folding chair, just trying to stay comfortable and warm at a long social event, and someone snaps a picture without his permission and makes a mockery out of it. People can be jerks. You have a choice not to be one. Be Kind.
No matter what you say, your kids will watch you, and they will use your actions as an example. Actions speak louder than words, remember? People you know are watching too. What jokes do you laugh at? Do you gossip? Do you pull practical jokes on people? Do you use foul language? Are you nice to your dog? Do you mumble disparaging remarks after hanging up the phone? Do you call other drivers on the road idiots? Are you kind in all of your ways? Be Kind.
Did you see the President of the United States trip on the steps going up to Air Force One? It became a joke on T.V. and social media. What if he was your elderly father? Would it have been funny then? Whether we voted for the man or not, the fact is, he is in an office that is to be respected, and we are in no way supposed to ever disrespect anyone in that position. He is also another human being, someone’s child, brother, father, husband, grandpa. Show respect. Be Kind.
All the things that the media (or whatever force is behind it) tries to use to separate this United States; whether it be race, gender, social-economical status, politics, strife of all sorts, can all be conquered with the simple act of being kind. Truly being kind. Holding your peace, showing mercy, honoring each other, showing respect to one another, self-control, and having a forgiving heart. Be Kind. It’s the answer, if we all will do it.
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32.