Word prompt--POLITE
Five minutes to free-write about it
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At first, no thoughts came to mind, but after reading Gina's post where she mentioned being a New Yorker, and the memory it triggered of New Yorkers being considered rude, many thoughts started popping in--way too many to fit into five minutes--so this may wind up being a very disjointed ramble.
Why is that association so commonly made about New Yorkers? Is it because life is so much more rushed and stressful (or was, back in the day when I lived there)? Though I never considered myself a rude person, maybe I was.
When I relocated to Virginia, there was much I needed to learn. Like slowing down and not always being in a rush, being more patient, not being so pushy when I needed something done and the person who needed to do it did not go about it as fast as I thought they should, and not always trying to be at the head of the line. For sure the pace of life was much different in this neck of the woods, and it took some time to adjust my ways.
Totally unrelated, the prompt also brings to mind how what is considered polite in one culture may not be in another. Like, for instance, the habit of burping at the table. To us here, how rude. And yet in other cultures, a loud burp after the meal is considered a compliment to the chef, as well as a way of letting the other people around the table know you enjoyed the meal and feel happy and well fed.
One last thought. Though these days, for the most part, my focus is no longer so much on me as on trying to be gentle, kind, and considerate to the people I interact with, and on being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide me, there is a new challenge.
Though my heart's desire is to be an encourager and to speak and act in ways that honor Jesus, point others to Him, and that give Him glory, you would never know it if you heard me on the phone, screaming and yelling in increasing frustration at the robot on the other end as I try to get it to connect me to a live person. This seems to be a test beyond all tests. Please pray for me to be able to keep my cool and turn it into a testimony.
I will definitely keep you in my prayers, dear friend! And please know that you are not alone! Those phone robots and machines can be so annoying, even a kind and polite person can get upset!
ReplyDeleteVery good point on the importance of being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Yes, dealing with robots on the phone tries my patience too!
ReplyDeleteI long for the days of real people who speak English to answer the phone.
ReplyDeleteYes, those customer support robots are enough to make us lose our minds!!
ReplyDeleteOh my dear Sandra ... I hear you loud and clear. I think trying to talk to a LIVE person on the phone is about the most frustrating thing. I have lost my temper more times than I want to admit, trying to get through and pressing so many numbers and being caught in the loop.
ReplyDeleteGreat prompt today.
Sue
Thank you for sharing, another very good post and has me thinking.
ReplyDeletePraying to improve myself in ways that you mention.
xo
Carla
I’ll be keeping you in my prayers too!
ReplyDeleteYou’re definitely not alone--those phone robots can test anyone’s patience, even the most polite person.
Blessings, Sandra!