Pastor Rick
Administrator
Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1900
Karma: 29 (+42/-13)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
You just never know who a person is by what they wear. When I am on the road you would never guess by my clothes that I am a pastor.
A story was told to me years ago about this unkempt old man that would visit churches around Christmas time every year. The churches that welcomed him and treated him kindly would receive a anonymous donation of $10,000 the first week in January while those that treated him unkindly or asked him to leave received a lump of coal for their actions!
The mans name was John D. Rockefeller!
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11/13/2008, 1:33 pm
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Morwen Oronor
Resident Scholar
Registered: 01-2008
Location: South Africa
Posts: 1743
Karma: 15 (+28/-13)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
Very true but all the reassurances don't help when it hurts and they also don't deny that the person doing the hurting is nasty.
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11/13/2008, 10:34 pm
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Pastor Rick
Administrator
Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1900
Karma: 29 (+42/-13)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
I often wonder where the circle stops. When I speak ill of someone that is wrong and when someone then speaks ill of me that is wrong then I speak ill of the one who spoke ill of me that is wrong and... see what I mean?
A friend of mine told me a story about a new preacher, full of pride and vinegar who went to speak at a church one day. The preacher was horrible and no one knew what to say so they asked this lady what she thought (she never said anything bad about anyone). Well, the lady thought for a moment and then with a smile she said "wasn't that a wonderful looking suit he wore?"
The key was this dear lady actually thought for a moment before speaking and because she did that she broke the circle of unkindness
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11/16/2008, 11:36 pm
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Queenyforever
Resident DroolQueen
Registered: 01-2007
Location: Just north of the clouds...
Posts: 867
Karma: 23 (+29/-6)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
I used to have this on my profile on that 'other' host...thought it fitting, and though I occasionally will get angry or annoyed with people....I do stop and TRY to think of this before responding...
quote: For those who think they are perfect....something to help us to remember, those who are not.....
Remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night might be a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly might be a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remember that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) might be a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress might be savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Remember that the greatest gift that humans have is the gift of love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open your hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
Just a reminder.......for a better world...
---
“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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11/17/2008, 11:35 am
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Petal Alderin
Resident Rusharound
Registered: 01-2008
Posts: 968
Karma: 19 (+22/-3)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
I know how you felt Queeny - I was also once criticized for a dress I was wearing when it was about the only one I had ... and by a so-called friend. I didn't turn the other cheek though, I'm afraid I was hurt enough to lash out and so I told him that when he paid for my clothes he could criticize them but unless he did, he should keep his opinions to himself.
I guess we're all human and some things rattle us more than others - I know I try hard to be kind and decent but sometimes, mostly when I've been hurt, I will say things I may regret later. That time though, I didn't regret it lol!
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11/17/2008, 2:42 pm
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Pastor Rick
Administrator
Registered: 07-2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1900
Karma: 29 (+42/-13)
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Re: Who is Nicer?
quote: Petal Alderin wrote:
I know how you felt Queeny - I was also once criticized for a dress I was wearing when it was about the only one I had ... and by a so-called friend.
My seniors outing was at the Lake Worth marina and I was with my first real girlfriend (I had a serious crush on her). The reason I still remember her is this other girl made a rude comment on how my girlfriends dress looked on her and Judy just took the dress off! Right there in front of God and everyone and said "here, see if it looks better on you" (she was wearing her swim suit underneath her dress but it was still a shocker).
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11/17/2008, 11:57 pm
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