Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 47

There was a viral post of a young woman crying after a government employee allegedly belittled her instead of helping her. It struck a nerve because we’ve all been there... facing someone in authority who makes us feel small when all we need is a bit of kindness.

It reminded me of my time on mission in Italy. I once accompanied an elderly sister to an office, I think for her health insurance, and instead of a smile, we were greeted with a scowl. 

The line was long, the air heavy with impatience. Yet this elderly sister, instead of reacting harshly, gently said to the woman behind the counter, “You must be tired.” In an instant, the atmosphere softened. A small act of understanding broke through a wall of frustration.

I’ve seen this grace before, especially during our mission in a Muslim country in North Africa. The people were mostly respectful of Christians, but there were some who mocked the sisters for not speaking the language well. Ironically, that became a blessing, because they couldn’t understand the insults being thrown at them.

One sister (whose name I’ve long forgotten) stood out. She died young, but she was remembered as a saint. When the Muslim doctors angrily complained about the sisters’ work in the hospital, she would just laugh. Not out of defiance, but out of deep peace. She had learned to see beyond anger... to see people as God sees them.

Maybe it’s maturity. Maybe it’s grace. Maybe it’s both. But I’ve realized that holiness is often revealed not in grand gestures, but in how we respond when we are misunderstood, mistreated or made to wait.

For the government employee in that viral post, and for all of us, it’s time for a self-check: Are we the reason someone loses hope today, or are we the reason someone still believes there is kindness left in this world?