Real Talk: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle

This Sunday will be two years that my late husband passed away from cancer. I wanted to share with you a story that I oftentimes think about. It has a lot to do with this quote:

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." 

I’m sure you’ve probably seen it several times before, but it’s so true. You never really know what someone else is going through. As I’ve shared before, Fernando spent more than a month in the hospital before he ultimately passed away. Those days were really tough, both physically and emotionally. I remember taking breaks here and there rushing back home to take quick showers before returning to the hospital to be with him. Many times, I would barely get to see our 2 year-old, who was being taken care of by my in-laws or my mom (so I could be by Fernando’s side).

I remember one instance where I decided to stop by a Starbucks before heading back to the hospital. As I was making the line, I remember thinking to myself, “wow, these people have no idea that my husband is at a hospital right now battling stage 4 cancer or that I just got the news from doctors telling me there was nothing else they could do and he had to be put in hospice.”

Anyone else looking from the outside, probably thought it was just another normal day for me---grabbing coffee. I wondered to myself how many times had I been standing in line next to someone who was hurting, who was in pain, who was fighting their own hard battle? And I can assure you that you have too. That’s why it’s so important to be compassionate towards others. Sometimes, something as simple as a smile can go a really long way in making someone else’s day better.

And you see, that’s what Jesus invites us to do every day---to be kind to one another. Maybe a cashier is giving you attitude, instead of giving it right back, do the opposite. You never know what they might be going through. When someone cuts you off on the street, instead of getting road rage, just let it be. Who knows, maybe that person got  news that their loved one passed away and they are rushing to the hospital. You just never know.

So how about you go a little out of your way to be extra kind to a stranger today? Perhaps it’s asking them how their day is going?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let me know what you ended up doing or what are some ways you are kind to strangers?