Smokeout

It’s Service Thursday!

Today also happens to be the Great American Smokeout Day. This makes today’s challenge both easy and… well… challenging.

If you know a smoker, be kind to them today.

I know it’s not always easy. Sometimes we get annoyed with each other anyway, but some of us take special offense with those addicted to tobacco.

But today, your challenge is to be kind to them. You may not agree with them, with what they do with either their money or their spent cigarette butts. You may not agree with where they choose to light up and blow their smoke.

Be kind to them, anyway.

Almost every smoker I know (and there are many) wishes they didn’t smoke. They try and try to quit, but because it’s such a forceful addiction, they can’t seem to manage to go very long between tries.

Every ex-smoker I know is glad they quit, though many still feel the pull of the addiction, even years later.

Realize that it’s not easy to deal with all the stress in the workplace, family or anything else. Some use smoking to help them get through. Whether or not that’s a choice you would make, the smoker who annoys you with their habit is still a living, breathing, worthwhile child of God.

Be kind to them today.

If you are a smoker trying to quit today, here’s your challenge:

Be kind to yourself.

Try your best, but be easy on you, too.

If you slip and have a smoke or a drag, forgive yourself and move on.

Believe in yourself.

I believe in you!

As always, thank you for reading today’s challenge! Please feel free to forward this to anyone who smokes, is trying to quit smoking, has smoked or knows someone who fits into one of the above categories.

Yes, I know. That’s everyone.

Most of all, remember – Service is the Action Form of Love.

James