Kindness / Goedgesindheid

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A kind word is never lost.”

It is too often that we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. It is also so unfortunate that we tend to judge and criticise rather than to compliment, but just remember that kind words are like honeycombs, they are sweet to the soul and healthy to the bones. We must, however, take into consideration that praise and a kind word out of season, or even tactlessly bestowed, can freeze the heart just as much as blame can. Always be aware of the fact that words can either build or break someone. Furthermore, and this is something I already discussed previously, the reward for something done, ought to reside in having done that something well; you will lose nothing by giving an additional compliment where it is due. Compliments and praise, kind words and a smile, should always be given honestly. Keep your plastic smiles and your false praises to yourself. Let your compliments and smiles be like kisses through a veil. Be generous with them and dish out those uplifting words, you won’t know it but you may just be saving a downtrodden soul today.

Ah, how beautiful a compliment,
dished out with the right sentiment.
Dishing them out willy-nilly
will however be very-very silly.

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‘n Goedgesinde woord gaan nooit verlore nie.”

Ons onderskat te maklik die krag in ‘n glimlag, ‘n vriendelike woord of twee, ‘n oor wat kan luister en ‘n opregte kompliment, ja, selfs die kleinste gebaar van omgee het die potentiaal om iemand se lewe radikaal aan te raak en om te keer. Dit is egter ongelukkig so, dat mense meer geneigd is om andere te beoordeel, te veroordeel en te kritiseer, eerder as om earlike komplimente uit te gee. Onthou net, vriendelike woorde is soos ‘n heuningkorwe, hulle is ‘n soetigheid vir die siel en gesond vir die bene! Ons moet egter in ag neem dat komplimente en mooi woorde, wat nie op die regte tyd gegee word nie, of sonder takt (diplomasie) uitgedis word, die hart kan laat vries net soos blaam en oordeel en kritiek dit kan doen. Wees altyd bewus daarvan dat woorde andere kan maak of kan breek. Iets wat ek al in die verlede bespreek het, is dat die belonging van wat jy ookal doen, gevind moet word in die feit dat jy dit goed gedoen het, sonder enige ander agenda. Komplimente en lofprysing, ‘n sagte woord en ‘n glimlag, moet altyd opreg wees, en gedoen ter wille van diegene op wie jy dit uitstort, nie om jou beter te laat voel of jou ego te streel nie. Hou jou plastiek glimlag en jou valse lofprysings vir jouself. Laat jou komplimente en jou glimlaggies soos soene deur ‘n sluier wees. Wees vrygewig daarmee en dis daardie opheffende woorde uit, jy mag net dalk ‘n neergeslane gees van die grond af daarmee optel.

‘n Kompliment, ag, hoe mooi,
solank jy dit in die regte gesindheid oor iemand strooi.
‘n Plastiek glimlag en ‘n valse woord het geen betekenis,
dit is iets wat niemand kan betwis.