Those Kind of People

One of my grandmother's most commonly used phrases was "Those kind of people."

She also referred to breakfast as "brakfast," diabetes as "di-a-BBB-tees," and salsa as "SAL-sa." But "those kind of people" was the top catchphrase.

"Those kind of people" just don't know any better. "Those kind of people" just never learn. "Those kind of people" just don't have anyone to help. "Those kind of people" must have not have been nurtured as children. "Those kind of people" clearly didn't have as good of grandmother as you. (My sister's personal favorite grandmother quote.)

It makes me laugh just thinking about it! She always made excuses for people or made another persons situation out to be better than it really was. She was the queen of sweeping things under the rug. It would at times make me roll my eyes, but was one of her greatest traits. The thing about grandmother is she was a magnet for people to tell their life drama. They would tell her all of their problems, issues, and life drama. It was always confusing to me because she was always dressed up and fancy, yet was still approachable to any of her "clingers."

For example, one lady, who was the director at my great-grandmothers nursing home, always had a drama and was wrapped up in the nursing home drama. And she would ALWAYS tell grandmother all about it. People would consume her with their drama and she would listen and hear ALL about it no matter who they were. And then she would tell us all about it and I would say, "Grandmother, why on earth do you get involved???"

She would say that she was just trying to help them and be the voice of reason.

The other day I was walking into work and two guys asked me if I tip at a restaurant as much if the waitress is "tattooed up." I was really taken aback by this question. It made me angry. I simply answered and said, "I tip no matter what people look like and you NEVER know what someone's else's circumstances happen to be."

I remember my Gee (my mom's mother who NEVER had an ugly word to say) getting SO upset one day because one of us referred to another woman as crazy. She immediately started talking about how you never know what someone else's life is like and how we have no right to make judgement. I can still hear the words and remember how truly upset she was by it. After she passed away, the entire town shut down for her funeral. The people who weren't in cars driving to the cemetery lined the streets standing in respect as she took her last ride through town. You could tell from the outpouring of support and respect she clearly never judged anyone and always took care of her neighbors.

Last night we were watching a show on TV about how the human brain work. If people walking down the street saw a well dressed woman fall on the street, they would immediately help her up. However, if these people saw a woman who appeared dirty or maybe on drugs fall down they walked right by. It was pretty scary. It made me thing what would I do? Would I stop and help both or just the one who appeared "safe." That led to me thinking do I serve Jesus like I really should or do I serve him in "safe" ways. Am I helping the people I am comfortable with and not worrying about "those kind of people" like I should be?

It is difficult to step out of your comfort zone. My junior auxiliary group sponsors a family with special needs by taking them meals and groceries every other week. During the summertime, we deliver the food to their house. I happily signed up to deliver the food one day when Krews was very young. I was immediately scared because it was not a safe neighborhood. I vowed not to take my baby back there. The next time I signed up and made my friend, Marcy, go with me. She is my friend most likely to throw punches if someone messed with me so she was the obvious choice. (She will love reading this!) We went and made it just fine. This past summer, I signed up to deliver the food and decided I would go alone. I went and when I showed up the mother immediately invited me inside. Typically I just dropped the food at the door and left, but this time was different. She was so happy to have me in her home and receive the food for her family. Her house was very small and did not have much inside of it. Just a couch and an old TV. The kitchen didn't have anything except the food I brought in. When I have someone come inside my house, I immediately apologize if I feel like there is any kind of mess. She was so happy to have me inside though, even with her having nothing. It was a huge step out of my comfort zone, but ended up being such a blessing.

It is hard because I want to protect my children, but also want them to have a heart for all people and be able to serve them.  For their age, I try to find appropriate ways for them to safely help. As for me, I need to do a better job of serving "those kind of people" by stepping out of my comfort zone. Maybe I could be just the voice of reason and help someone needs in their life. And more importantly I hope to always give people the benefit of the doubt because you truly never know what is going on in someone else's life.