Tuesday, June 14, 2011

entertaining angels


if we treat people as they are, we make them worse. if we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.-  goethe

i had a bump-up about a month ago. just a little fender bender in front of my favorite local gas station. as i was pulling in front of the building, a woman backed up in to me, though i honked very loudly the entire time the black SUV was moving. it was my first accident ever. and i know i'm lucky it was so minor.

but the woman was anything but simple. she was difficult to work with, elusive and quick to flee the scene.

she told me she would e-mail me her insurance number. she didn't.

she told me she had insurance. she didn't.

and her little lies and deceptions cost me almost two months of headache and stress, the eventual outcome being that i was covered under my non-insured motorist insurance and all was well.

but i was angry. angry that her mistake cost me. angry that i had to spend hours on the phone, a stutterer's worst nightmare. angry that for two months, i had to drive around with my front bumper halfway hanging off while an insurance agent tried to reach her via snail mail.

but she's not the last. there will be others, i am sure of it. ones who will tear down the wall of sunshine i've built. ones whose clouds will helplessly wander into my beams. but it's how i treat those people that spins the situation. yes, i could be dealing with an instrument of satan. but i could also be entertaining angels. and on this side of heaven, i might not always know the difference.

so i overestimate the good. and trust. in promises that might turn up empty and strangers who only seem sincere. i do it in hopes that maybe one day, on an afternoon when i'm not my best, when i'm grouchy, angry and downright mean, someone will do the same for me.

12 comments:

Southhamsdarling said...

Sometimes it is hard though, isn't it, to overestimate the good - in people, and in situations that occur from time to time. But you are quite right, that we must not stop trying! It's really not nice though when people are on the road with no insurance. No wonder she fled the scene so quickly! I used to get very annoyed about certain situations, but I can honestly say that now I'm older (oh alright then, decrepit!!), I just let it pass and say to myself "life's too short to stress about this."

the southern hostess said...

I needed this one today! Thanks for sharing.

Christi said...

Great quote. And I love your outlook. It is something I need to put into practice more often. Thank you once again for sharing.

Blondie's Journal said...

it is sad...that we face the world with optimism and a smile on our face, only to encounter people like this lady. Don't let it dash your dreams and way of thinking.

I'm sorry about the incident but glad you are okay.

XO,
Jane

Steph said...

Bummer! I love you optimism though. I need to try harder to be more optimistic.

Dee Paulino said...

I love how you can turn any negative situation into a perfect life lesson and touch all of us with your writing. I am one of those offenders, who "lately" has been treating people like they deserve, I think it's time I put this in practice & start entertaining angels as well. It's easier said than done but I guess I better start somehow.

Thank you friend, you rock!

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

such a great reminder friend!

DaisyGirl said...

Very good thoughts. It's kind of like when people say make lemonade out of lemons--it's all what we do with a situation. But it's just not always easy!

Hope you're enjoying this summer day!

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

keep the optimism xo

Jennifer Rod said...

this is great encouragement. we should always display great character, kindness in all circumstances, cause you never know.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for what you had to go through to deal with the situation. It must have been so frustrating. I admire your faith in the goodness of our Heavenly Father through all kinds of situations life throw at us.

And your words touch my heart. Each post on your blog is so meaningful, and your blog is like an oasis in my day.

Shalyn said...

You are so much better than I am girl! My sister got hit by a lady with no insurance a few months ago and it took me much longer than it seems you did to have anything nice to say. Sorry you had to go through all that:-(

Post a Comment

thank you for stopping by! have a blessed day:)