Bullying – Just Stop It

I would like to start this post by telling you a story I recently heard about a man. We will just call him Sam. Sam was on a bus one day going home from work. During rush hour, the bus was full and had very few seats available when another man and his two kids got on the bus. Sam watched as the man and his children found seats and sat down next to him. Sam thought to himself, “oh great – another forty-five minutes with these rowdy kids.” Just as Sam predicted, it didn’t take long for the children to start screaming, yelling and disturbing the other passengers. It was clear the kids were causing havoc to the whole bus, but the father of the children just sat in one spot, looking forward and was not moving. As this continued, Sam became more and more annoyed and found himself getting very impatient. He wanted to say something, but didn’t, in hopes that somebody else would. Eventually he couldn’t take it any more and reached over and tapped the father of the children on the shoulder and expressed his annoyance and told the father to control his children. The man leaned over with a glazed look in his eye and as he began to apologize, he held back the tears as he said, “I am sorry. I am just not myself. I am coming from the hospital and just found out my wife passed away.” Sam’s inner annoyance quickly dissolved and turned into feelings of compassion and hurt for this stranger and his children.

Much like Sam, we interact with people every single day who are going through many different trials, whether or not we are aware of it. I heard a quote once, “The real test of your character is how you treat the people you don’t have to be nice to.”

I think Dieter F. Uchtdorf said it best, “Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!”

I always thought judging, drama, being mean to one another and “bullying” would end after elementary school. I have learned that it continues through Junior High, High School, College and even as an adult.

President Uchtdorf continues, “I imagine that every person on earth has been affected in some way by the destructive spirit of contention, resentment, and revenge. Perhaps there are even times when we recognize this spirit in ourselves. When we feel hurt, angry, or envious, it is quite easy to judge other people, often assigning dark motives to their actions in order to justify our own feelings of resentment.”

I saw this video the other day and was so moved by it, I knew I needed to share it with you today. Normally when I see a YouTube video that is ten minutes, I do not make it through the whole thing, but this drew me in and was a beautiful video for everyone, all ages to watch.

The blonde bullied girl in the video is actually a friend of mine’s daughter! You can read her real story here.

Like Sam, do we judge others even when we do not know what they are going through? Do we intentionally {or non-intentially} leave others out, criticize, gossip, or fault-find in strangers, acquaintances, friends and even within our own families? May we always remember to STOP IT!

“Brothers and sisters, let us put down our stones. Let us be kind. Let us forgive. Let us talk peacefully with each other. Let the love of God fill our hearts. “Let us do good unto all men.” Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another. The merciful will obtain mercy.” – President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day!

March 2, 2014 by Danielle Davis | 5 Comments