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Life Interrupted: Responding with Grace & Kindness
Check out a full blog post on the Life Interrupted series: Life Interrupted Summary
Miss the previous message? Check out Life Interrupted: Responding with Love & Care
Read – Ephesians 4:25-32
Review – One face popped in my head as an example of someone responding to a life interruption with grace and kindness. Though he never knew the impact he had on me personally and professionally, today I share this story.
Over half a decade ago I was placed in a situation to hold conversations with employees who were having their jobs eliminated. It was the first time I had been put in this position and the stress and anxiety was beyond anything I’d experienced so far in my career. I was required to have a conversation with a gentleman we’ll call “Don”.
After letting Don know he his job was being eliminated, he smiled slightly, stood up, shook my hand, and allowed me to escort him to the door. As we took that walk, someone approached him and asked him a question regarding a task. Don kindly answered the question, said nothing about the fact he was leaving, and told the person he’d see him later. When we got to the door, he gave me a hug and said thank you.
The way Don handled this life interruption was full of grace and kindness. I had several conversations that day. I observed anger, grief, shock, and even apathy, but Don’s response was the mark of a man of great faith.
See, a couple of years later, Don passed away. I heard about it in our community and chose to attend the memorial services. Low and behold it was a large gathering and scores of people from his time in the workforce were present. People specifically spoke of the way he treated people and went with the flow as things happened in life. He was a very long-tenured employee when he left and story after story was told at the service.
Simply defined:
- Grace – “courteous goodwill”
- Kindness – “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate”
Don’s interruption allowed him to spend the last years of his life with his wife, children, and grandchildren. It was an interruption, but he knew it was all a part of a bigger plan and blessing would be on the other side. Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” Next time you are interrupted, be like Don.
Reflect – How can I respond with more grace and kindness when I am interrupted?
Remind – Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Relate - #leadership #career #perfecttiming
Check out the next message in this series: Life Interrupted: Responding with Peace & Comfort