| Conquer with Kindness | Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell |
|
President Abraham Lincoln led America through
the ravages of the Civil War with dignity and grace. In his second inaugural
address, as the South was collapsing in the last of the battles, Lincoln called
for "malice toward none” and "charity for all.”i In essence, he spoke of showing
kindness in the most difficult of circumstances.
Kindness is relatively easy to practice when
all is going well. To show kindness at difficult and stressful times is to allow
the heart to govern what we do. Kindness is a language of its own, a power, a
strength of character, a way of life—and these days it seems so often in short
supply.
President Lincoln did more than just speak
publicly of kindness; it guided his private interactions as well. He once
instructed an army commander regarding the punishment of a Confederate officer:
"My dear General, . . . do nothing in reprisal for the past—only what is
necessary to ensure security for the future. I remind you,” he continued, "that
we are not fighting against a foreign foe, but our brothers, and that our aim is
not to break their spirits but only to bring back their allegiance. Conquer them
with kindness—let that be our policy.”ii
Lincoln’s policy can be our policy. We can
rise above anger and be gentle with the young, considerate of the aged, tolerant
with those who rankle us, and patient with those who stumble or charge at
lightning speed. We can smile rather than point fingers. We can offer a
listening ear rather than a cold shoulder. We can forget about past wrongs and
go forward shaping and reshaping relationships. We can proffer a compliment.
And, yes, we can even let someone ahead of us on the road or in the grocery
line.
We can "conquer with kindness,” and we will
positively influence our corner of the world.
i In Lewis Copeland and others, eds., The
World’s Great Speeches, 4th ed. (1999), 317.
ii In David K. Hatch, comp., Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life (2006), 41. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment