Has anyone tried this with religious people coming to the door?

[sabrina 1]

85. Has anyone tried just being kind? It's amazing how being kind can result in

amazing results. Eg we have a, probably very unpopular in a society that appears to delight in presenting a 'tough' image, liberal approach to those whose views differ from our own, we decided to respect them at least. We invited them in.

When a tragedy of immense proportions struck our family, amazingly it was they who, after the initial, obligatory period of expressing sympathy from friends and family, who continued to offer their support and sympathy. At that point, religion was on the back burner when every week we received a visit from one of those much maligned 'religious people' to offer their assistance, if needed, in helping us to deal with a shock that was almost completely immobilizing. There was no more discussion of 'beliefs', just 'we understand your pain and if you need to talk, we are here to listen'. They gave their time when everyone else had moved on.

Their genuine sympathy was like medicine, their tireless willingness to listen when everyone else's advice was to 'move on' long before we were ready to do so, was remarkable with zero benefit to them.

Kindness produces untold benefits, not that this should be the reason for being kind, it wasn't for us. We had no idea when we chose not to be rude, 'tough' or insulting, of what we would receive in return.

All I can say is, it was gold at a time when it was most needed and confirmed for me, that kindness is never wasted.