Enough Kindness
If we aren't careful, we can be sassy little Judgy Judgersons, can't we? Especially we are in a rush or feeling crabby or tired.
Why is that person doing that? How annoying.
Why are they driving so slow? We are in a hurry!
Look at how they are dressed! Kids today, jeez.
Why aren't these people doing what I want? So frustrating. Are they trying to drive us crazy?
It takes intentionality to snap out of this automatic hypercritical habit and force ourselves to look at things from the lens of kindness.
If someone is annoying us, we can think of kind thoughts and pray for them as we consider what they must be going through to act this way.
We can react kindly to others, knowing that everyone is doing their best, even if they are driving 10 miles under the speed limit.
We can look at others with loving kindness, just as we would want others to look at us!
We can look at things from other perspectives and ask questions to learn more about why they are acting this way, assuming everyone has good intentions.
We can choose to live this life with purposeful intention of showing kindness.
If we do, God will bring us all sorts of opportunities to bless others.
You can call that friend and encourage them, knowing they are having a rough time at work or in life.
You can give generously to that crabby waitress you were annoyed with, especially after you talked kindly with her and learned that she has been struggling since her home was destroyed in a recent storm.
You can let that person merge in the lane in front of you; perhaps they just got some tough news and are having difficulty focusing.
You can be kind to yourself after you make a mistake at work; you did your best and tried something new, so give yourself a break!
As you start your day today, ask God to help you look at the world through His eyes of loving kindness and show you ways to be kind to yourself and others.
In no time, you will find that even the tiniest acts of kindness are enough to make a big difference.
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.