Be REAL

The other day as my kids and I were making our 6th trip to Wal-mart for the week I smiled as usual at a person passing us by and said hello.  They did not respond back, and my oldest son got real upset.  He asked why she frowned at me and didn't say hi back.  He said you were just being nice to her.  I told him that maybe she was having a bad day, got some bad news or just was to shy to say anything.  He said it was still rude but he understood.  A time before this I smiled and the person responded back and my kids immediately asked did I know them, what was their name and so on.  I simply told them no I didn't, but God wants us to be nice to everyone especially people we don't know so I said hi.  I realized as we walked through Wal-mart that people everywhere had these looks on their faces.  No one was smiling, people were avoiding eye contact and when you did say something the other person acted if you spoke in an alien language.  I was saddened by it.  When did our lives get so busy that we simply can't say hi to a stranger or help someone with their door.  Let them go 1st in a line even though we are in a hurry.  Strike up a genuine conversation with a total stranger.  Jesus did all things things and soooooooooo much more.  He is the PERFECT and only role model for us Christians.  How he walked on this earth is how we should strive to be like.  He was not afraid to speak to anybody.  He did not only speak to the rich, healthy, pretty, popular, clean and important.  He also spoke and helped the poor, ugly, filthy, unpopular, sick and unimportant.  Actually he sought them out.  We have our own issues and fears to deal with but with God we can get better at having compassion for others like Jesus did.  So when your are walking and pass people say hi, if they don't respond it's ok.  Let someone go first when your in a hurry, give someone a compliment.  Talk to a stranger or a old friend when you see them in a store and be genuine about it.  Be an example for your children.  You never know what a simple smile and hello can do to someone.  It might be the first kind thing the've had shown to them in a long time.