A little courtesy goes a long way and spreads like wild flowers <3
Hello and happy Friday!
Yesterday I was sitting in the waiting room during an appointment for Russ and I overheard several conversations that made such an impression on me.
The first was when a young man seemingly in his late teens was called back. As he approached the summoner, I heard an exchange where another young man introduced himself by name and that he would be his new physical therapist for the session. The teen responded by calling him by name and saying it was nice to meet him. It was refreshing to see such an appropriate response in one so young.
After that I began to notice other ways people were being greeted, responding and I heard many thank you’s exchanged all around. Later a woman came in to find a seat using her walker. Shortly behind her came a man who I presume was her husband. He checked on her and then offered to get her a water. Again I heard a please and thank you. So nice.
Courtesy.
Manners.
Just being kind.
How refreshing.
It was interesting to me how much better the atmosphere of the waiting room was with this air of mutual respect. I was reminded of one of the lines from a morning prayer from John Baillie’s book “A Diary of Private Prayer”.
In one of the morning prayers there is a part that asks God to help us remember to treat those nearest to us in our homes with the same courtesy and respect we show others out in public. He asks to grow in the ability to be gracious to the ones he deals with every day in the most common and ordinary situations.
How true it is for me. I often forget my manners in the ordinary passing of the day under our own roof. I don’t mean to, but perhaps as I busy myself with my tasks to be completed, I forget to say please and thank you, I forget to look up and engage in listening to what someone is telling me.
It was a good reminder yesterday to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of others who were minding their manners. So as John Baillie would do, I pray…Lord, help me to remember to treat the people nearest to me with courtesy and kindness and respect.
Amen and amen <3
Here is a link for the prayer book. I can not recommend it enough to teach you to pray for more than just solutions to current situations. I do not have any affiliations with links I share. This is just a great book and I wish everyone had a copy and prayed through it regularly <3