Who Do You Think You Are

Who Do You Think You Are 

My dad always had a way of making others feel better about themselves. No matter who they were. If you were a good waiter/waitress, he would let you know. He would bless those that had to work on the holidays - those that treated us with a smile. One Christmas, he tipped a Wal-mart cashier. He would go out of this way to make someone feel important... And I watched him closely all of my life as he did this. It left quite the impact on my life. 

You can learn a lot about someone by the way they treat others... Especially others that have nothing to offer in return. I watch the way students and parents treat the janitors at school. I watch how people treat the person serving them at a restaurant. I watch how people treat the cashier at the gas station. Have you ever watched someone eyeball a male or female walk by that had tattoos from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet? Or piercings in places that you didn't even know could be pierced? They judge and they judge quick. You know who else I've seen judged? Single moms. The first thing someone will ask "Are you married?" to which I reply with a no. Some have looked at my in total astonishment as if something is wrong with me.  Most single moms feel they have nothing to offer others in return. We are tired. We feel helpless at times. But that is so far from the truth. We all have something to offer others. It may not be something of monetary value but if we all would take the time to get to know someone and not judge first, we may learn a thing or two.

Do you have compassion on those you pass walking down the street as you drive by in your air conditioned vehicle? Or perhaps you look down on the person next to you that may not have the name brand clothes that you wear... We can all compare our lives to others... Some we are more fortunate than and others are a tad bit higher than us on the social ladder. But all of that could change at any given moment.

There is a lady at the local CVS pharmacy in West Monroe that my dad wrote a column about several years ago. Why? Because she always greeted him with a smile and would ask how he was doing. She made him feel important and he wanted to acknowledge her for doing so. She reminded me about that article last week. She knows my entire family and has watched my little boy grow up since he was less than two weeks old. I wonder how others treat her that may have the mentality that they are better than she is... When in actuality ... We are no different.

Who do you think you are to set yourself above others? To think you are better than someone and that they deserve to be talked down to or looked down upon. Be slow to judge... You never know when you just may need that person one day... Life can change in an instance... You could be on the other side of the fence. Be humble ... Respect others... Treat them as you would want to be treated. It speaks volumes about yourself. 

So, just who do you think you are? Pay close attention today to those around you... How they treat others... Or more importantly, how you treat others.