Three ways to be kind

I’ve heard that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. I think it must take more energy to be mean than to be kind. Beloved, we can kill people with our looks, our words, but we can give life with kind words. Kind words turn away wrath. Kind words build a person up, not tear them down. My mother used to say to me, “If you can’t say something kind, do not say anything at all.”

Glimpsing at the beauty of God, kindness is such a beautiful action.

Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

 

Kind

Our word today is kind. In looking up kind, I focused on a kind person. The definition of a kind person is good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a kind and loving person, having or showing, or proceeding from benevolence: kind words. Indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often followed by): to be kind to animals.

Kind is in the Bible 188 times. One such verse is

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32. 

We see kindness modeled by Jesus. Kindness is in the Bible 44 times.

For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lordendures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:2.

Perhaps the most telling verse is in Colossians,

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12.

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Beloved, three ways to be kind

• do not repay evil
• say kind words
• do kind deeds

When someone hurts you, it is hard to forgive and take revenge. However, kindness does not repay evil. We can trust God because vengeance is God’s. He is the only fair judge. As hard as it is, walking in forgiveness leads to kindness–kindness to you.

When every possible, say kind words. A kind word will turn away wrath and anger.

When able, try and do a random act of kindness, pay for someone a cup of coffee, offer to pray for someone and do it, share from your bounty.

Let’s start a kindness movement.

Conclusion

Father God, Thank You for giving us Jesus, who modeled kindness for us. Please help me not to return evil, to say kind words, and to do kind deeds. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Share a kind deed you did in response to this blog.