6 CONSIDERATION
Consideration is an attribute of a conscious person. There is more to it than meets the eye.
Several months ago a friend had an eight-year old from Oregon as a house guest for a week. He was a neat young man and I invited them over for dinner. It was my impression that the boy was a vegetarian, so I fixed macaroni and cheese for dinner. The kid didn’t like it. He really would have preferred a hamburger.
Where did I miss it? I didn’t ask HIM what he wanted to eat. I treated him as being less than responsible. Perhaps this goes right to the heart of treating someone with consideration. When I turn this around and someone treats me as not being responsible, I don’t like it. There are many who think they know what ought to be for me. And I’m sure others don’t like it when I think I know what ought to be for them.
Many years ago Neal, my husband, was making a phone call. On his way to the phone I called out the phone number of the party he was calling. He snapped back at me. “I am capable of finding the number!” He hadn’t ask me. I volunteered this bit of information thinking I was being helpful and he felt less than responsible.
All through the Teaching material it is emphasized that one HAS TO ASK. Sounds fairly simple, doesn’t it? But it is not easy for those of us who have mountains of information and experience to share to remain quiet. But to volunteer information without being asked is a method the self uses to feel important and superior. Ye gads!
It would seem, then, that to be considerate takes considerable consideration.
I will practice……