"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop
In some ways, the culture and society our children are growing up in is more sensitive and more aware of the need to be kind. Our social media pages and airwaves are filled with messages of acceptance, tolerance, and the pressing need for a lack of passing judgment. However, in other ways, it appears our culture and our society has become even less drawn to the actions of being kind. Words impressed on a cool background that say how we should be kind are good to put on your desktop or as the lock screen of a phone, but do those words grow into any form of action? Many teenagers are confronted on a daily basis by bullies (both physically and by cyber means) whose intentions are to crumble and break apart any foundation of confidence that has been built. Many young children are confronted on a daily basis by bullies in their school who are desiring some type of "pecking order" and therefore will attempt to mock any perceived disadvantage suffered by the child. Many ADULTS are confronted daily by bullies who, due to some type of frustration in their own life, seek to deflate the good feelings of others to try and level their playing field.
In every situation mentioned above, no cool quote about kindness is going to fix the problem. There is... RIGHT NOW... a need for action in our schools, our jobs, our churches, and our homes. There is a need for people to stop talking about how we should be acting towards one another and start acting that way. Kindness is lost on many because in their twisted, perverted perception, kindness implies weakness or pity that they believe the other person doesn't deserve or desire. If you were only given kindness by God that you deserved, where would you be today? The sobering thought is that we have been blessed beyond measure (in a VERY literal sense) by a kind and generous, loving, forgiving Creator who desires for you and I to roll that forward in our dealings with everyone.
Jesus chastised those who were only kind to those who were kind to them... He chastised those who only prayed for those who prayed for them... Therefore, if I am truly trying to learn from the example that Jesus Christ provided, I should take the passages that follow more seriously than I take my drinking coffee... (Yes, I know... coffee is sacred ground, but that should prove the point even more)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
"A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." - Proverbs 11:17
"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." - Proverbs 21:21
So what? The answer here is simple... If you cannot deal kindly with others, you are in direct violation of what God is commanding you to do. How many times do you see Jesus "have compassion" on the crowd, knowing full well that many were there only to see His latest healing or there to see Him fall? And yet, He still had compassion and kindness when dealing with them. I have been appalled by the behavior of many who claim to be Christians (myself included) in the realm of kindness. Kindness is not some great show of your wealth, or some great show of your ego. Rather, it is the understanding of what you were without God (a worthless, miserable, pathetic wretch) and what you are now because of His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and KINDNESS (a chosen child of God who is promised a home in Heaven when this life is over). Kindness costs you nothing, but it can mean everything to those who are under the shadow of your kind thoughts, words, and actions.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." - Jesus (Luke 6:35-36)
In some ways, the culture and society our children are growing up in is more sensitive and more aware of the need to be kind. Our social media pages and airwaves are filled with messages of acceptance, tolerance, and the pressing need for a lack of passing judgment. However, in other ways, it appears our culture and our society has become even less drawn to the actions of being kind. Words impressed on a cool background that say how we should be kind are good to put on your desktop or as the lock screen of a phone, but do those words grow into any form of action? Many teenagers are confronted on a daily basis by bullies (both physically and by cyber means) whose intentions are to crumble and break apart any foundation of confidence that has been built. Many young children are confronted on a daily basis by bullies in their school who are desiring some type of "pecking order" and therefore will attempt to mock any perceived disadvantage suffered by the child. Many ADULTS are confronted daily by bullies who, due to some type of frustration in their own life, seek to deflate the good feelings of others to try and level their playing field.
In every situation mentioned above, no cool quote about kindness is going to fix the problem. There is... RIGHT NOW... a need for action in our schools, our jobs, our churches, and our homes. There is a need for people to stop talking about how we should be acting towards one another and start acting that way. Kindness is lost on many because in their twisted, perverted perception, kindness implies weakness or pity that they believe the other person doesn't deserve or desire. If you were only given kindness by God that you deserved, where would you be today? The sobering thought is that we have been blessed beyond measure (in a VERY literal sense) by a kind and generous, loving, forgiving Creator who desires for you and I to roll that forward in our dealings with everyone.
Jesus chastised those who were only kind to those who were kind to them... He chastised those who only prayed for those who prayed for them... Therefore, if I am truly trying to learn from the example that Jesus Christ provided, I should take the passages that follow more seriously than I take my drinking coffee... (Yes, I know... coffee is sacred ground, but that should prove the point even more)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:9-10
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
"A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." - Proverbs 11:17
"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." - Proverbs 21:21
So what? The answer here is simple... If you cannot deal kindly with others, you are in direct violation of what God is commanding you to do. How many times do you see Jesus "have compassion" on the crowd, knowing full well that many were there only to see His latest healing or there to see Him fall? And yet, He still had compassion and kindness when dealing with them. I have been appalled by the behavior of many who claim to be Christians (myself included) in the realm of kindness. Kindness is not some great show of your wealth, or some great show of your ego. Rather, it is the understanding of what you were without God (a worthless, miserable, pathetic wretch) and what you are now because of His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and KINDNESS (a chosen child of God who is promised a home in Heaven when this life is over). Kindness costs you nothing, but it can mean everything to those who are under the shadow of your kind thoughts, words, and actions.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." - Jesus (Luke 6:35-36)
Thanks for these important words on kindness. I must remember to display these actions of kindness especially behind the wheel of a vehicle. And oh how hard that is dealing with others who disregard many rules of the road. Thanks again.
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