A Prayer to Be Considerate of Others by Victoria Rielano, read by Leah Martin.

Let everyone see that you're considerate in all you do, remember the Lord is coming soon.

When it comes to people, I have a hard time dealing with those who are inconsiderate.

I have to be honest when it comes to my relationships, professional and personal,

I expect people to be where they say they're going to be and do what they said they would do.

And in response, I try to do the same almost to the detriment of my own mental health.

My desire to not disappoint or leave someone else in need often gets the best of me.

Perhaps sometimes my high expectations of others and myself is my greatest flaw.

Yet I often wonder why Philippians 4.5 reads in the manner it does,

be considerate or gentle depending on the translation to all.

This phrase by itself requires much intention.

Yet the writer of the passage, the Apostle Paul, follows it with,

remember the Lord is coming soon.

Out of all the things he could have written here, he chose to remind us that the Lord is coming soon.

How would our choice to be considerate be related to the Lord coming soon?

I believe this passage is a perfect example that our actions matter.

How we treat people and interact with others is a cornerstone of our faith.

If we're inconsiderate, uncaring, prideful, angry, it affects other people.

So much so that we may play a part in how they view the Lord.

If we, as Christians, aren't intentional about doing right by others,

what does this say about the God we claim to follow?

Much like 2 Corinthians 5.20 states, so we are Christ's ambassadors.

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