Welcome to the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival on Kindness. Please add your link to the widget below, then enjoy what everyone else has posted.
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I decided to try something different and wrote a short story. Can’t wait to see what all of you came up with…
To read my contribution “When Kindness Isn’t Enough,” please scroll down past the widget. Thanks for being part of the carnival!
When Kindness Isn’t Enough…
“I want a divorce!’ Mark said with a sad, yet distant look in his eyes.
Melanie quickly looked up, an obvious look of confusion on her face. “What do you mean?” She choked out as tears began to form.
Love is patient
“I’m not happy, Mel. I’ve been telling you for years and you refused to listen. I tried to be patient, I really did.”
“But Mark, I don’t understand. I DID listen to you,” Melanie cried.
“If you did, you didn’t care enough to DO anything about it. It’s like MY feelings never mattered. I’ve waited years for you to put me first. I finally had some real hope last month when Penny left for college. I prayed with all the kids now out of the house… ” Mark’s voice tapered off mid-sentence.
Love is Kind
Melanie anxiously ran her fingers through her hair, the shock was beginning to wear off… anger, hurt, and frustration now taking its place…
“I’ve done nothing but take care of YOU and the kids for most of my life. What more could you possibly want from me? I cooked, kept the house clean, ran all the errands, made sure the kids got to all their appointments and activities. I tried not to bother you with that stuff unless there was NO other choice!”
“Mel, kindness is not what I needed from my wife. It was nice you did those things, but I told you over and over… it wasn’t enough.”
“I know Mark… we have two different love languages… how many times have we had this EXACT conversation?” She sarcastically snapped.
“Not enough I guess,” he replied sighing deeply.
It Does Not Envy
“Maybe you shouldn’t have spent so much time working. It would have been nice for the kids and I to know we mattered more than your company getting bigger and more successful. If you would’ve given a little more time and attention to US, then maybe I would have been more willing to return the favor,” she said, her emotions continuing to escalate out of control.
“I had to work hard to make sure we could pay the bills and send the kids to college. I did my best Melanie… even though you never seemed to appreciate it, and complained ALL the time! You were so busy with the kids that I’m surprised you noticed I wasn’t around anyway,” Mark said, mumbling the last few words under his breath.
It Does Not Boast
“At least I WAS a parent. If it wasn’t for me the kids would never come home and visit. They’d just stay at school or with friends over break. I was a great mom… you can’t deny THAT!”
“How could I? You reminded me plenty about what a lousy dad I was, and the kids always chose you over me. You didn’t need me, you had them to make you happier than I ever could.”
It Is Not Proud
“You didn’t even try, Mark. The kids at least acted like they cared and were thankful… you were too stubborn and set in your ways to ever do what I asked. You never appreciated all I did for you and the kids, and never once said I did a good job.”
“Just like you refused to listen to me when I told you doing stuff for me wasn’t cutting it. I wanted… no… NEEDED you to show me you loved me with attention and affection… acts of kindness weren’t what I asked for Mel… they were NEVER enough.”
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
That was excellent, Bridget. Really, really good. Wonder how many times that conversation takes place? Plenty, I bet.
You told a story here, Bridget, and a good one.
It is sad that something close to this conversation has been spoken over and over again. It’s a whole lot easier to maintain relationships (though it’s hard work) than to fix it when it’s all broken…
Great story, great message…
That seems too real. What a reminder. Wow. Thanks.
that was an interesting way to break the conversation down …
I just want to go hold my wife right now….
Sad realities. Very good demonstration…
Using the Corinthians selection was a wonderful way to illustrate the meaning of this story.
That was great. I love how you added the definitions of what love is between the argument. Awesome.
-FringeGirl
Bridget — a powerful thread of I Corinthians woven into an active living of what they mean — even when their meaning is not seen by the actors.
Thank you for this piece. It’s good!
Excellent post, Bridget.
(BTW…sorry my post came up twice in the list…I only submitted it once!)
this is such an important narrative, and one that is sadly too familiar to so many of us. I am delighted that I read it early enough in my marriage and in my parenting career that I will be able to keep it close to my heart in the tough times.
I wonder how many times this exact conversation takes place, without remembering to be kind.
You told a very powerful and thought provoking story here Bridget!
Bridget, while what you’ve said is true, it’s also evidence that what we think is kind often isn’t. Perhaps kindness lies more in the eye of the recipient than in the giver. Perhaps kindness CAN be enough if it’s simply perceived that way.
Perhaps this is true. Thanks, Anne.
not a very kind conversation.
Another awesome carnival! Thanks for your participation… as always I learned a lot, and enjoyed all the creativity and touching stories.
I think many couples, young and old, could really benefit from reading your insightful post Bridget. I like the clever way you wrote it and there isn’t a marriage on this planet that hasn’t at one time or another fallen short. Thanks for sharing my friend!
What a creative and honest battle of words — to underscore “kindness”. I’m bummed I missed this week’s carnival. It looks like a big hit..
.. starting it off with this powerful post.
No wonder you’re a writer!! … Can’t wait to read your stories, Bridget!
Thanks for stopping by and for these kind words, Bonnie. I hope to see you in the next carnival.