Theme: Just Be Nice

Verse: For They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love (song lyrics adapted from John 13:35)

I just had a rite of old age passage that not everyone has the “pleasure” of experiencing, and my prayer is that you never do. I just had knee replacement surgery, my second one in exactly 6 months.

I am grateful for my medical team at the MacDill AFB Orthopedic Clinic and the HCA South Hospital in Tampa, for not once, but twice demonstrating the tremendous professionals they are as they took care of my operations and recovery. Each step of the way they all genuinely cared about my particular situation, even though they only knew me for this brief moment in time.

Each day we encounter someone that we will have only that brief moment with. Maybe it is at an intersection while driving, or a store clerk, or while participating in a sporting event or exercise. If things in that encounter don’t go perfectly, what vibe do we send out? How close have we come to exhibiting the care and compassion of my medical team?

The solution? My wife has a saying that if applied would transform your community, your state, the nation, the world. I call it the “Holly Principle” It’s simply, “Just Be Nice” a version the Biblical Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Found In Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31

You have no idea the circumstances of the person with whom you have a chance encounter. Maybe they need to pick up their child before getting charged an extra fee at the day care, so letting them go first at the intersection was just what they needed. Maybe your smile was just what they needed to get them through a very rough day.

This week’s challenge is to try the “Holly Principle” and see if your world does not become a better place.

Have a GREAT Week!