I remember when I used to play soccer, there were occasional fights during games and practices. Most of the time, these weren’t physical, but verbal insults.
I recall hearing vicious comebacks and verbal assaults from my teammates and competitors alike throughout my career. Thankfully, I only experienced this a few times personally.
You might be wondering, OOOHHH, what was said to you? Or more importantly, what did you respond back with?
Thankfully, I cannot remember a single insult or mean word said against me. However, I can definitely tell you my response was always: “Be nice.”
OOOOOHHHHH BURRRNNN!!!
What can I say? I’ve been lame since the day I was born. Really, I cannot come up with a diss or burn to save my life. I am neither quick nor clever. I just don’t have it in me, and maybe that’s for the better!
One time, during practice, a teammate of mine was upset after I beat her in a drill. When the play was done, she cursed me out. Again, I don’t remember what she said, but I do remember that it hurt, and the only thing I could say was, “Be nice.” I probably cried too. I’m not that tough.
I left practice feeling like a big baby and later went to prayer, asking God to make me less sensitive. At the time, and even today, I wished for tougher skin or for the ability to be able to defend myself against attacks like these.
Later that same day, I got a text from that same teammate apologizing, saying something along the lines of, “I didn’t realize how much impact my words had and could hurt.”
To be fair, I don’t think any of us do. We’re all so caught up in our own lives and our own pain that we easily lose sight of our neighbor—and especially God in our neighbor.
This is why kindness is so powerful—Its tiny but mighty presence can be so disarming, especially in a culture that only knows how to scream, shout and insult. When we experience kindness, especially in the places where we feel we don’t deserve it or where we truly don't deserve it, the human heart is brought back to life.
This story isn’t about how kind I am. My “be nice” comeback is an innate reflex more than an exercise of will. I can assure you, there are other places and instances in my life where I severely lack charity. Yet I look back at this moment as a constant reminder that people need my kindness more than my advice, good ideas, or recommendations. It is my life-giving presence that will restore the dignity in my own heart and that of my neighbor.
This is the great lesson I’ve learned, not only from experiences like these, but from the simple Gospel lived by the great St. Teresa of Calcutta. Her presence and stature in and of itself are a beautiful icon of kindness. Upon looking at her in pictures, you wouldn’t think much of this little nun serving the poor in India.
Yet the tenderness, love, and kindness shared through her humble heart was, and still is, a gateway for so many souls to find their true identity in God and have their dignity restored in Christ.
As we celebrate her feast day, may we experience her kindness. In reading her words or simply beholding an image of her smiling face, may we receive the tender kindness our hearts are starving for—and then go forth and share it with our neighbor.
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