If you follow me at all, you know that I have closed each week for the last year with “Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.”
In a world that has grown increasingly hostile and fraught with divisiveness, I have recently seen several social media posts that gave me pause.
The first stated, “Your beliefs don’t make you a better person; your behavior does.” As a youth development professional, I try to model this every day. I have a solid faith and ethics foundation but if I allow my frustration and fear to erode the principles that I believe in, my behavior doesn’t follow. I can be angry and upset at circumstances without taking that out on others by name-calling and undermining.
Another post said, “Be careful not to dehumanize those you disagree with. In our self-righteousness, we can become the very things we criticize in others ... and not even know it.” It is easy to decry those who have different goals and standards than we do but it is harder when the person with different goals or standards is someone we know and care about. I often ask myself about the model that I or others are setting for young people. Are we modeling respectful discourse and conversation with young people? If they see us willing to throw stones, real or metaphorical, how can we expect them to act and speak respectfully?
The final post reads, “Sometimes miracles are simply good people with kind hearts.” In a world that feels weird and off-kilter, there are good people everywhere doing really good things! It is just easy to miss their kindness in the clamor.
Do you see a theme here? Hold open a door; take a deep breath before responding; buy the cup of coffee for someone else, walk away for a minute before hitting send/post. Look for – and be – one of those showing kindness. The youth in our world deserve our best example. For young people, find a mentor who consistently sets an example of steady beliefs, positive behavior, and kindness.
Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!
Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
