Kindness

​“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

When love is bearing all things, a little bit of kindness goes a long way. Both are Fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23) and when others experience fruit in our lives they know then that we have been with Jesus.

Brene Brown revised the idea that a healthy position to take in our interaction with others is to believe that, perhaps, they are doing their best. Assuming that everyone is doing their best relieves us of the burden of harsh judgment and unforgiveness.

H. Collins, a blogger, wrote: 

It’s been so easy to lead a life full of harsh assumptions. It keeps me at an arm’s distance and protects me from harm. I’ve always assumed people want something, are out to get me, or I operate out of a worst-case scenario. If I portray every person or situation in a negative light then it won’t hurt as badly when I’m disappointed or things don’t go my way. To assume the best about people and assume that, at any given moment they’re just doing the best they can, would require a vulnerability and humility that often exceeds my capacity. It would require me to actually get to know people, to let them in and hear them out, to sit under the weight of their story, or simply to get out from underneath the weight of my own.

Honestly, my assumptions about other people start with my assumptions about myself. Really it’s more of an internal problem than an external one. I see the worst in other people because I’m constantly hashing out the worst things about myself. I’m not generous with others because I don’t have the grace or the patience to first be generous with myself. At any given moment I’m on the hunt for my biggest flaws and most blatant failures so I can minimize my insecurities and maximize my likability.”

​Just a little bit of kindness, driven by love, can possibly lead someone to Christ, could possibly be the blessing they were praying for, or the light they sought in their darkness. 

Ian Maclaren is quoted as saying, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

The ability to show kindness aligns with the ability to recognize that not everything is about us.

Let us move over and make room for someone else.

GiGi❤️

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