BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS

 KINDNESS . LOVE . PEACE

Where do we get kindness from? Where do we get love from? Where do we get peace from? We could say they originate in us, but the answer is incomplete. We could say they just are, but the answer is incomplete.

We could say they originate in God, then we'd have the true answer.

Love, kindness, peace speak their truth wherever they may be found. Those whose lives are full of love, kindness, and peace show remarkable facility for caring, giving, and gentleness. I love how these individuals demonstrate in their beings (without saying it) their walk with God.

My grandma walked with God. Her very essence exuded love, kindness, and peace. In the midst of distress, sorrow and suffering Grandma's inner light still continued to glow. She had worries, yes, but the Source of peacefulness lived within her, the light of life, the Lord Jesus.

Grandma trusted God, and He took care of her.

What made my grandma into the faithful servant she became? I assume it was because she chose to trust in God. She also had a dear neighbor friend. They prayed together and supported each other, especially when the burdens were heaviest.

Grandma prayed and talked to God as she gardened. She told me it was while she was gardening that she felt closest to God. Her spiritual garden grew at the same time. In it she cultivated kindness, love, and peace. Her garden grew as it was nurtured by her Father God and her own careful tending. Over the years she harvested crop after crop of kindness, love, and peace. All who knew her were blessed when they were in her presence.

Like Grandma, we all can grow in kindness, love, and peace and harvest a bumper crop of blessings.

Be Kind -- Inspiration 16

Be Kind to One Another

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 
as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

BE KIND to one another, scripture says. Why do we need to be told to be kind? Maybe it is like a strong way of directing attention with softness to it. Kindness is a virtue. A virtue has a moral quality in its essence. A child is told to be kind to their sibling, a student to their peer. In this case, the Christian to another Christian. The saying of it stresses the importance of it. Be kind, tender hearted, forgiving, like Christ has forgiven you. Christ is the ultimate example. That is the best reason of them all. Unselfish, other-focused, the very act in itself, being kind, blesses the other person. To be kind effects goodness. Goodness, in turn, enriches. This benefits those in the relationship. Directed to the Christian, it is meant to impact their interactions with each other personally and in the assembly. Healthy actions are cultivated and they are the expectation. God would have us to be kind to one another to kindle right attitudes that promote regard and respect. To be kind is a practice and a purposed action. God asks this of us. Mixed with tenderhearted forgiveness, it's a winning combination to promote harmony,  unity, and peace.

Father God, sometimes I fail. Help me to be like Christ. May I be kind in word and deed. Help me to rein it in when self-centerdness gets the upper hand.  Take charge of my mouth. Rewire my way of thinking into being a little tool in Your hand by being kind to those I meet on my everyday path.

 

To God be the Glory