While doing a home health visit, I met a very unkind individual. After calling the homeowner to confirm the appointment, I arrived at the house, and the water sprinkler was spraying water wildly over the front and side. When I phoned, I left a message questioning how I would enter and requested she turn the sprinkler off.

No return call.

 

I sat and waited for a call or to see the sprinkler stop so I could enter without getting soaked. Three healthcare personnel from other agencies ran through the water to the back of the house. I don’t want to get wet, I thought. They should have the sprinkler off when expecting caregivers. 

A nurse from a fourth agency ran through the water. When she was leaving, I asked if the homeowner was back there.

She answered, “She’s sitting back there on the porch.”

I telephoned a third time.

No answer, but the sprinkler went off about five minutes later. I strode to the back of the property, smiled, and introduced myself. The homeowner nor caregiver introduced themselves nor instructed me on how to find the patient inside. The caregiver nodded in reply to my questions but did not volunteer pertinent information to help me serve the client effectively.

As I tolerated her sour, sarcastic attitude, I smiled and responded with love.

I may have been as arrogant and sarcastic as her five years ago.

Through the Holy Spirit living in me, I don’t let others’ behaviors influence me and keep me from being kind.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”____________________________________________________John Wesley

Do you let others’ sour attitudes influence you?