I have a friend who is a really nice guy. When he deals with his business, I always get so upset with him because for me it seems so simple. If an employee doesn’t do their job right, you let them know about it. If an employee continues to do the job incorrectly, then you fire them and find someone else. Simple.
My husband hired a cleaning lady to come to our house. She brought her kids with her. I tried my best to remain impersonal, but instead she told me a story about how she was trying to take care of her child by herself and how they didn’t have an air conditioner during the hottest days of the year. She came in and did the job and after she left, I noticed that although she worked hard, she didn’t do a very good job. I am writing this post asking myself: Is it that simple?
It isn’t. If you see the light of God within everyone, then you have to act with patience and understanding. You have to find a way to see when people are at 100% and figure out how to deal with that. I spent years thinking about what Jesus meant about “turning the other cheek”. I knew He didn’t mean let yourself become a punching bag. I realize today that “turning the other cheek” has lots of meanings. When you are in a position of power, maybe “turning the other check” is about having patience and understanding. Being generous even when you don’t have to be. I always thought my friend was letting people take advantage of him, but today I realize that sometime being a nice guy is about having patience and understanding. Being a nice guy is about “turning the other cheek” and being like Jesus.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
