Loving thy neighbor breaks barriers

This week, as I read the words in the daily motivational book I try to keep up with, I was reminded of the importance of kindness. Seemingly, every time I’ve opened a book, went to a study, or self-reflected the past few weeks, I have been reminded about being neighborly and showing others the same kindness we see demonstrated in the faith of spiritual believers. The constant, common theme had been seemingly whispered in my ear in an apparent manner designed to elicit my adherence. As I considered my repeated reminders, it caused me to reflect on how I interact with others and my need to remain consistent.

As we spoke about previously, I have been overly impressed by the girls over the past few weeks. Their selfless sacrifices to ensure the family’s needs are being met have been refreshing. Last Sunday the reward for their commitment was placed in their hands in the form of their weekly paycheck. Like always, Riyann shrugged her check off and went right back to watching the latest episode of the anime series she loves so much. Lilli on the other hand had a bit more of a surprising reaction.

As the week flew by, Lilli repeatedly welcomed our praises but framed her responses to the praise, voicing her feelings of regret over having the family pay her a salary for working in the family business. When her grandmother handed the child her weekly paycheck, I really didn’t notice what her reaction was. What caught my eye was her prolonged standing, looking down towards the paycheck with a look of awe settling on her face. I asked her what was wrong, and she looked up and said, “Wow.”

Knowing it was the largest check she had received, I responded, “Kind of makes all that hard work worth it, huh?”

Lilli’s reaction to her paycheck was kind of like the interactions we have with others. When we open our eyes and make the feelings of others a priority, our actions open us up to a rebooting of sorts. No longer are we filled with angst and negativity. Those characteristics seem to simply fade away, if we allow them to, replaced with a renewed vigor and peace in ourselves.

When we look beyond the here and now and simply treat others with love and kindness our excitement and even awe increases with each interaction. Our misgivings and protective barriers seem to melt away, exposing our true self, allowing us to lay aside the dark cloud which builds within our lives when we look at others negatively. Welcome the whispers my friends. For it is when we listen intently that we can find true, lasting excitement, from not only those around us but also from the culmination of our hard work.