I definitely take after my mom when it comes to “Latin flair,” but I have my dad’s coloring and light blue eyes. My dad is easygoing. My mom… not always! My twin brother, Louis Darrouzet, started this column, and while he takes after my mom’s olive skin, he’s usually more easygoing than I am, even though he’s every bit as intense when something matters. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to finally contribute to the Future Voices column and earn volunteer hours while sharing something I’m still working on.
I’m normally a really kind, positive, upbeat, and joy-filled person. One thing I struggle with is getting easily angered by unkind people. Staying kind sounds simple, especially during Christmas, but it’s hard when someone is rude, unfair, or just annoying. Most of the time, though, when people are mean, it isn’t usually about you. They’re often dealing with stress at home, with sports, or with school and work. Sometimes people feel left in the shadow and try to make themselves feel better by bringing others down. Unfortunately, it usually falls on the wrong person.
I learned this lesson the hard way at school. There’s a boy I have a lot of classes with, and he’s someone I sometimes lash out at more than I should. He has a decent amount of confidence, and I think that’s why I feel more comfortable being overly direct with him, even when I shouldn’t be.
One day, a while ago, he threw a basketball at me. I felt anger rush through me so fast that I didn’t even think. I grabbed the ball and threw it back as hard as I could. I immediately heard several of the boys around us gasp, which honestly shocked me almost as much as my own reaction. I’m usually not that way, so realizing how “unlike myself” I had acted hit me right away. I regretted it instantly. Throwing the ball didn’t fix anything. It just made me feel ashamed.
That experience taught me something important: sometimes we hurt the people we’re most familiar with, or the ones we think can handle it because they seem confident, especially when we feel someone is being rude or unkind (which usually is not even the case). But that doesn’t make it right. Everyone deserves kindness, not just the people who are easy to be kind to. My mom often reminds me how important it is to be especially loving to those who are cruel, moody, unkind, or mean, because it could be our opportunity to show them the love of our Lord.
As Christmas approaches, I’m trying to remember that no one is perfect. Our choices, especially when we’re emotional, shape who we are becoming. When I really want to hurt someone with words or actions because I think it’s justified, I try to pause and remember that they may be hurting inside too. God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and sometimes that means choosing patience instead of winning an argument.
This season, I’m working on responding with grace instead of reacting based on my feelings. That doesn’t mean letting people walk all over me; it means choosing kindness when it’s hardest. If we can do that, even in small moments, we can bring a little more peace into our schools, our friendships, and maybe even our own hearts this Christmas.
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About Future Voices
Future Voices is a Sunday-morning column in The Dallas Express in which young Texans share how faith and perseverance shape their lives. These stories remind readers that God often speaks through the honesty and courage of the next generation.
