Nice Matters

Nice people are preferable to cranky, belligerent, angry folk- but we've all taken turns being " not nice" at some time in our lives. Maybe more times than we'd care to recount.

I spent this past Saturday afternoon running errands, and I stopped by my bank. The assistant manager was there. He and I had not been on the best of terms since the last time I was there.

I have banked at this place for several years, and have a couple accounts there. I've done countless transactions there. So to my surprise, one day this past month, this new guy tells me emphatically, "You cannot transfer money out of your business account into your personal account." I thought he was telling me I couldn't take money out of MY account and put it where I wanted to! After the manager came out and explained to me what the assistant manager was trying to say- that I needed to use a different form other than what I had previously been using (without trouble)- I said to the assistant manager, "You could explain it differently, you know. You could simply tell me how to do what I am trying to do- instead of telling me that I can't access my own money." He apologized to me in a clipped manner, and I walked away feeling shaken up. I didn't mean to have "an encounter" with anybody. But he was brisk with me, I felt confused and alarmed at first, and overreacted. We both felt relieved that I was a customer who only did a minute or two of banking there every week.

But on this past Saturday, there he was. I took a deep breath, went up, smiling, handing him the proper forms I've been told to use. He did the transaction. I asked him about ordering a new debit card because mine had expired. He said he would handle it. I thanked him profusely. He smiled more. Then I did one more transaction, and he handled it so nicely. I complimented him on his efficient manner. He laughed and smiled, and I smiled back. We both felt relieved that he and I were both being on our best behavior. In a word, I was trying to be "nice".

It's good to be nice, to be "pleasing and agreeable in nature". So when I found out this morning that I was awarded the "NICE MATTERS" Award, by FishHawk at http://fishhawkdroppings.blogspot.com/ I was so touched.

I smiled at God's sense of humor, His timing. He seems to be sending the message that He's watching me, sees my efforts, and that even banking transactions are an important matter to Him! (It's not so much what you do, but how you do it that counts, some times).

The award is given out to “…those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”

Well, I will try to continue onward under this high commendation. Please check with those around me, in my little world here, to see if I am holding up my end of the bargain here!

I need to pass this award along to other more worthy recipients. I have gotten to know so many people in this blogging world, but let me take the time to single out a few who really are...Nice.

Mike, at This I Do http://thisido.blogspot.com/
Lindsay at http://murdockcattle.blogspot.com/
Marion at http://reflectionthroughtheseasons.blogspot.com/

ALL of you know that being nice matters. So many of you have left me the nicest comments, and have welcomed me as a neighbor in this blogosphere. And to my family,who know my not so nice moments, I know you'll be reminding me of this blogging award over and over!! (smile!)