Cultivating Kindness

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about how much our words truly affect others. The old cliche "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" couldn't be further from the truth.  Kindness is underrated. Too often, we speak without even thinking. We must be careful with our words for when they are spoken, they may be forgiven, but they will never be forgotten. 

We often forget that our friends, our family, and our enemies are human. It is so easy to become distracted by our own hurts, that others become invisible to us. Lysa Terkeurst once said, "People are walking around with way more hurts than we could ever imagine." You never know what another person is going through, which is why you should strive to be positive.  

A friendly smile, a slight wave, a quick compliment, or even a simple "hello" can brighten someone else's day. Be kind, you won't regret it. Ephesians 4:32 says "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." 

Cultivating an attitude of kindness isn't always easy.  Maybe that one person just drives you absolutely crazy, and you have no idea how to connect with that individual. Remember, people are weak. We mess up and make mistakes. Look beyond the failures of others, recognize your own faults, and just be their friend. If you are unsure how, ask God to show you how. He is there to help you with your uncertainty. 

Step out of your comfort zone. Reach out to someone who isn't in your "friend group" and spend some time with them. It is perfectly normal to have people that you are comfortable with, but it becomes a problem when you exclude others for the wrong reasons, even if it is unintentional. I challenge you to text someone you usually wouldn't and encourage them. Believe me, you won't regret it!

When you start viewing your friends as actual human souls that you are going to spend eternity with or without, it changes your whole perspective. 

 

Instead of being judgement of others, why not have an attitude of compassion? Yes, there is a place for constructive criticism, but may we always find something good within the bad.

Be kind🤍