More than meets the eye

One of the things I tell my kids from time to time 

is that you never know what makes people act the way they do.

Last week was one of "those" weeks for me.

We had a lot going on with all those ball games.  

And Bethany's birthday and Father's Day.

It was all good.

Well, except for the dead battery and getting stranded at a gas station.

And the misunderstanding with a friend.

And hearing my neighbor's moving truck pull away 

only to realize she was already gone and I hadn't said goodbye.

And the car dying again after being "fixed",
and getting a ticket for leaving it overnight in the ball field parking lot--
even though we called the police
and told them we would have it towed the next day.

And the sunny weekend forecast turning rainy and chilly.  AGAIN.

You know, every bit of that could have turned out much worse.  SO much worse.

But there were a few times when my insides were wound so tight 

that I was just praying no one would cross me
and become the unfortunate victim of my stress.

I'm so thankful that people were kind to me.
It helped me to not completely lose sight of the beauty.

You never do know what makes people act the way they do--
unless you take the time to find out.
Kindness is always a good way to go.

So what about you?
What is something you tell your kids
(or yourself)
from time to time?