All things considered...

Today, Kenzie watched as I ran on the treadmill. After a few minutes of looking back and forth from the treadmill to me, she asked with all sincerity, "How does THAT make your face sweaty?"
I laughed and said, "the treadmill makes my body work and when my body has to work hard, it makes me sweat."
She said, "Even your eyes?"
"Yes, even my eyes. Running is a challenge for me."
With that, she grabbed her dolls and her stroller and left the room.

It made me think though.

It reminded me of the quote (Sister Hinckley? President Hinckley?) about how we all need to show a little more kindness because each of us is fighting a hard battle.

How true that is.

Just like Kenzie didn't quite grasp how the the turning belt on the treadmill caused my face to turn bright red and break out into a sweat...I don't know all of the details of people lives, the inward and outward challenges, which cause them to react or behave the way they do.

And should it really matter whether or not I know their circumstances? No.
I should be kind to everyone -- whether or not I perceive their lives as going well...or not so well.

Do I know that the young mother behind me in the check-out stand, the one who's kids are seemingly out of control, just had a miscarriage last week? No. (Quite frankly, I wouldn't even notice noisy kids because I am too distracted by my own.)

Do I know that my daughter's preschool teacher is struggling with the fact that her husband just lost his job? No.

Do I know that the lady at the gas station is distracted by the fact that her mother is dying of cancer? No.

Do I know that the man who just cut me off on the freeway is sad because he and his wife are getting divorced? No.

Do I know that my neighbor down the street, the one who hasn't cut his grass in two weeks, is pondering how he's going to keep his house? No.

But does it matter whether or not I know these things? It shouldn't. And yet, sometimes, I let it matter.
Everyone is fighting a hard battle. Everyone has something.

Just like the turning belt on the treadmill, the one that makes my three-year-old ask, "How does THAT make your face sweaty?" I need to remember that things are not always as they seem.

Challenges exist.
Things are not always obvious.

I need to remember that for other people.

And I hope they'll do the same for me.