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Hope for the Day

Be kind

Diane Houghtaling
Posted 3/17/23

I see many quotes that have to do with being kind to others. This one from an unknown author says, “Today you could be standing next to someone who is trying their best not to fall apart. So …

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Hope for the Day

Be kind

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I see many quotes that have to do with being kind to others. This one from an unknown author says, “Today you could be standing next to someone who is trying their best not to fall apart. So whatever you do today, do it with kindness in your heart.”

We never know what others are going through, what heartache and sorrow is weighing heavy upon them. We don’t know what they’ve been through in the past, or what challenges they’ve faced and may still be facing. Every person has a story and there’s always a reason why they’re the way they are.

We usually can’t tell by looking at others what they are experiencing in their lives, although some people wear their hearts on their sleeves and their faces give away their emotions. But many are good at hiding their feelings, and you would never have guessed the pain they are carrying inside just to look at them.

It doesn’t cost us anything to be kind to others. It’s true that some people may be hard to treat with kindness, especially if our actions are rejected or treated with scorn. But treating others kindly is not about them; it’s about us and what’s inside of us.

Kindness is found in two important lists in the Bible. I Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter. Verse 4 says that love is patient and kind. We find the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The Amplified version says, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In both these lists kindness follows patience. It’s hard to be kind to others without first being patient with them. All these attributes are also almost impossible to produce on our own. These are first of all characteristics of God, and then grow in our lives as a result of His presence within us. To be patient and kind is to act in the same manner as Jesus does.

Psalm 103:8 tells us, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in compassion and loving kindness” (AMP). We are so thankful that this is God’s attitude towards us, but He desires that this would also be our attitude towards others.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you” (AMP). If we are to treat others as God treats us, we need to be willing to extend the same forgiveness to them as Jesus extends to us.

A former pastor used to say it’s better to be righteous than right. It can also be more important to be kind than right. Most people don’t need us telling them what they should or shouldn’t be doing, but just a listening ear and loving attitude. James 1:19 says, “Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]” AMP.

Kindness is expressed in more ways that just our deeds or how we treat others. It is also seen in our attitudes and expressions. So let’s be quick to lift up and encourage others with kindness.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.

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