“Life is not about winning or losing, it’s about living, giving and to stretch beyond our fears and feelings of insufficiency,” –revfrieda.

There seems to be an attitude of winning or losing in the recent news reports when the person reporting states this person lost and the other one won. As if very important circumstances and predicaments of the government were only about who won and which one lost. Nonsense.

The other day I had to call our credit card customer service. We were not credited for one of the three fraudulent charges on our credit card during Christmas. As the customer service agent spoke, I knew she was in a low mood. 

Our renowned, clear spoken Truth teacher Eric Butterworth had this to say about getting along with challenging people: “We can become bitter or better as a result of our experiences.” I add–or when we are in the center of a conversation with a cranky person.

The temperamental credit card customer service agent began our conversation by asking me one question after another. Instead of rebelling, I surrendered to her questions. One time I conferred with my husband to confirm some fact she asked about our account. She told me I had to talk with her directly and no one else while on the phone with her or she would end our talk.

By this time I simply relaxed and decided this dear person is not having a good day. I continued to acquiesce and answered each of her many questions. Finally she told me she would clear up the matter.

And credit would appear in our account for the erroneous charge within two days. Inwardly I was happy at her final response. I thanked her and got off the phone. When I would think of her I sent her a quiet blessing.

If I had rebelled, she surely may have gotten worse in her attitude and demands. In reminding myself, other people do not always feel well or do their best at times. I did not know her inner or literal struggles. It was during the government shut-down. Perhaps she was influenced by or dealing with the hardships endured at that time.

By rising up within ourselves and feeling compassion for the person who may be cranky, we lift everything and anything. When we remember times in our own lives when it took all our energy to smile or feel joy, we relate to others with consideration and thoughtfulness. I deliberately was nice to her and thanked her for serving me. 

Instead of wondering which one of us won or lost, I rose up in myself and let love and courtesy flow through to her and we both were winners. For our psychologists tell us we need to feel some individual sense of power and appreciation in our lives. Consequently, I let her exercise her power as a customer service agent and I spoke words of gratitude for her help that day.

We decree: “Instead of responding negatively I direct my response from a place of stable love saturating the situation and lifting the communications to a healing, respectful experience. Amen.