🌿 A Quiet Moment, A Gentle Lesson

Earlier today, I was hanging some heavy blankets after washing them, and as I did, I saw my grandma. I used to go to her house to wash them since she has a washing machine and we don’t, and I could almost hear her asking why I hadn’t come over this time. A part of me wished she had seen me maybe just to hear her say something, to recognize my effort. But then I stopped myself. I asked, “Why do I want her to see me?” And that’s when I realized it: I didn’t want her to just see me, I wanted her to react. Deep down, I knew that if she saw me doing the laundry, especially struggling with the heavy blankets, she might feel guilty, like she had somehow let me down. She might wonder what had changed, why I didn’t come like I used to, and that discomfort might lead her to offer again or insist that I come next time.

And that’s when it hit me: that would be unfair. She wouldn’t have done anything wrong, but my actions could have stirred guilt in her heart, and that’s a form of manipulation too. It’s not always about forcing someone; sometimes it’s about quietly creating a moment where the other person feels bad, even when they shouldn’t. And I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to cause her that kind of emotional pressure just to feel noticed. So, I thanked God for helping me see it clearly, right there in the moment. She didn’t see me, and that’s okay. I did what I had to do, not for attention, not to cause guilt, but because it was the right thing to do. And in that quiet realization, I found peace.

I share this because I know how easy it is to fall into these small traps of the heart. I’ve experienced firsthand what it feels like to be manipulated in subtle ways, and the weight it leaves behind. It’s because of those painful experiences and by the grace of God, that I was able to recognize this moment for what it was. I want to stay alert, to be more aware, so I don’t hurt the people I care about in the same way I was once hurt. Finally, I leave you with this: ask yourself these questions before doing actions (daily day life).

·         🟡 Is this action I’m about to do genuinely coming from my heart?

🟡 Am I seeking attention, even in subtle ways?

🟡 Could this choice unintentionally place a burden on someone else’s heart.

Sometimes, in the rush of daily life, we don’t stop to think this way, but we should. Because our actions, no matter how small, influence the people around us. What we do and say can leave a mark, so let’s make sure it’s a gentle one.

Written from the heart by
Dania Abigail Garcia Ventura.