This past weekend started up with a bang. It just so happened that my husband, Ben, was at a men’s retreat in the Hill Country, with basically no cell coverage. I kept a close watch on the radar, and when things started to spice up, I went to the front door to watch the fun.
Hail was expected Friday night and the weathermen were correct. I watched as the hail came down hard on the driveway. The pelting sound of the hail hitting the windows was magnified like a loud microphone throughout our house. These kinds of nights are like a roofer’s dream.
I can’t imagine having to go outside with the hail spewing out in all sorts of directions. It would have hurt for sure.
Perhaps some of the pain we encounter in our world today is like that hail spewing out in all sorts of directions. As much as we want to be kind people and demonstrate kindness to others, we can be guilty of all sorts of spewing. Unfairly judging. Listening to and passing on gossip. Being outright mean. Speaking sharply. Complaining. Holding a grudge. Being manipulative. Sadly, we often don’t even see the hail and hurt we spew on others.
God calls us to live differently. I find that every day, I interact with people and have a choice. How am I going to treat them? Throughout one day, I wonder how many different actions I have that display kindness. How many don’t?
I can’t imagine having to go outside with the hail spewing out in all sorts of directions. It would have hurt for sure.
Perhaps some of the pain we encounter in our world today is like that hail spewing out in all sorts of directions. As much as we want to be kind people and demonstrate kindness to others, we can be guilty of all sorts of spewing. Unfairly judging. Listening to and passing on gossip. Being outright mean. Speaking sharply. Complaining. Holding a grudge. Being manipulative. Sadly, we often don’t even see the hail and hurt we spew on others.
God calls us to live differently. I find that every day, I interact with people and have a choice. How am I going to treat them? Throughout one day, I wonder how many different actions I have that display kindness. How many don’t?
1 Corinthians 16:14 states “Do everything in love…” By displaying kindness, I not only show love but obey God's command to love others. My kindness is not about expecting something in return, but simply from genuine God-given love. Kindness may involve encouraging people, taking time to listen, giving money, spending time, reaching out, sending a card, praying for a person, making a hospital visit, sharing a meal, asking good questions and really listening, and forgiving with no strings attached! And that's just a start to kindness! God loves when we’re kind to each other.
When is kindness tough? When people aren’t kind to you. Every one of us has difficult people in our lives. The cool thing about kindness is that God can fill us with His love to be kind, even when we’re treated unkindly. We can’t control what others say or do, but we can control how we treat others.
Take a moment and reflect on these verses. They give you and I an understanding of what kindness is and how we can be kind with God’s help:
“Above all, love each other deeply, become love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
How do you think your life would change if God helped you live out these verses? Kindness is a choice. It is something we can “put on” each day. May this May be filled with kindness from your heart.
When is kindness tough? When people aren’t kind to you. Every one of us has difficult people in our lives. The cool thing about kindness is that God can fill us with His love to be kind, even when we’re treated unkindly. We can’t control what others say or do, but we can control how we treat others.
Take a moment and reflect on these verses. They give you and I an understanding of what kindness is and how we can be kind with God’s help:
“Above all, love each other deeply, become love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
How do you think your life would change if God helped you live out these verses? Kindness is a choice. It is something we can “put on” each day. May this May be filled with kindness from your heart.
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Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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