Brother has so many connotations in today’s multicultural environment but all the meanings share something in common – a feeling of bonding, closeness or camaraderie.
This special feeling or bond that we have with our brothers and sisters is important because at the heart of it is the fact we will stay together as a family regardless of difficulties and even conflicts. The bond of brotherhood is so strong that it has been used in many ways over many centuries as a measure of loyalty and devotion to each other.
The truth is that every human who has been born, now living and for that matter is yet to be born is in fact our brother. We are all part of the brotherhood of humanity. One of the ways I use this is to help me determine how to behave or act with other people. For example yesterday I was walking down the street and there was a man pushing a door on a dolly up the sidewalk. He was by himself and I could see that he was struggling a bit and had to go through two sets of doors to enter the building. Even though I was dressed in my suit with an overcoat I turned back and asked him if he needed me to hold open a door to make it easier to enter. He smiled, said thanks and told me someone was coming to help him and I could tell he was truly grateful.
How easy it is to share a moment in time with a stranger. You may often have a kind thought for another as you go about your day. What a wonderful feeling it is when someone looks into your eyes in response to your genuine and kind sharing. Another time this week in passing I told a woman that the scarf she was wearing looked wonderful on her and it really did. Again I could see that she genuinely appreciated the compliment. I believe people respond positively and genuinely because I am genuine when I do it. I do not look for opportunities to compliment people but I do let them out as they happen naturally in my mind. Do not keep them secret. Share the love you already have.
Today I am actually going to visit my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephew. How wonderful that I have such kind and loving people in my life that support me to be a kind, generous and loving person myself. I will remember this as I visit with them and I will consciously choose to reflect it back to them.
So today set out to let your inner kindness erupt spontaneously. What you share you shall also receive. Earlier this week someone asked me for money. I said no but I did it with kind smile and I looked at him. He looked right at me and said “wow you have beautiful blue eyes” and so I said thank you. We may not have exchanged money but we definitely communicated. And if one day you happen to receive a genuine compliment from a stranger remember to let it in and also to thank them for their kindness so they also receive what they give.
