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The word kindness has been repeating in my mind lately and I have been
thinking about the many ways that we can sow kindness in the lives of
others. One thing we must always remember is that everyone around us is
fighting some kind of battle. They might have health issues, financial
issues, emotional issues, mental stresses or any other number of things
that we as humans go through in life. And it is for this reason that we
take on the mentality to be kind at all times. If someone says something
rude to us, does something to offend as or they are simply not treating us
right, we can respond with kindness. We don't have to be rude in return.
We don't have to do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. As God's
children, we are to return good for evil. We are to return kindness for
rudeness. We are to sow love in the midst of being shown hate. We must
remember that when people try to hurt us, it is because they themselves
are hurting. They are not happy in their own lives and they don't have
the capacity to show the same love that we offer. You must remember that
love conquers all. Love wins in the end. No matter how opposed they may
seem to our kindness, deep down they will remember it and think on it in
their quiet time.
The Lord Jesus declares in Matthew 5:44-45 “Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of
your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil
and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” We who
have given our lives to the Lord and have been committed in serving God
any way we can are to remember this command. We are to bless, forgive,
pray for, and help heal all those who are hurting around us. We are to
sow kindness, sow love, sow mercy, sow forgiveness and simply treat others
as we would like to be treated. How can we begin? We can do simple
things to show our love. We can buy our coworker lunch for no apparent
reason. We can buy our loved ones a gift to show how much they mean to
us. We can spend time with that one who is feeling discouraged or
depressed and show them that somebody cares for their well-being. Mercy
and love are shown in many different ways, but our main goal is to make
sure it is shown. As long as the intent is pure and without motive then
it should be done.
Be encouraged to take on the mentality of being kind no matter how strong
the temptation is to return rudeness when someone isn't treating you
right. Take the higher road and sow mercy. You will quickly find how
being an example of light and love will change those around you. They
will have seen what true love is and how it can be a part of their own
life. The only way people change is to be convicted in their heart. When
they see the error of their ways and they come to the realization that
there is a better way; that is when they will seek forgiveness and see the
mercy and love of the Lord. May we each practice kindness and mercy each
day that we have left on this earth.
I hope you are inspired and challenged by this message to see how great it
is to sow kindness in the lives of others.
LITTLE THINGS
Little things make a big difference. Little things like kindness.
Douglas, a fifteen year old boy who lived in Missouri (USA), had been
feeling badly for several days. His mother Donna took him to the emergency
room where blood tests revealed one of the most frightening things a
parent can learn about a child. Her son was diagnosed with leukemia.
Douglas' life changed. He began a routine of blood transfusions, spinal
and bone marrow tests and chemotherapy. The physical trauma was one thing,
but he also became depressed. And who wouldn't? He lost is former life,
his healthy self. All of those exciting dreams and plans a young boy has
for his future vanished, and in their place all he could see was somebody
with cancer. Somebody who may or may not live long. Somebody whose life
would be very different than before.
He had a good hospital and good doctors, but he did not have hope. And
without it, he was in serious jeopardy.
Douglas' aunt called a florist close to the hospital. She wanted the sales
clerk to be aware of the flower arrangement's significance. “I want the
planter to be especially attractive. It's for my teenage nephew who has
leukemia,” she told the clerk.
“Oh,” said the salesclerk. “Let's add some fresh-cut flowers to brighten
it up.”
When the floral arrangement arrived Douglas opened the envelope and read
the card from his aunt. Then he saw something unusual. It was another
card. The second card read:
“Douglas--I took your order. I work at (this floral shop). I had leukemia
when I was seven years old. I'm 22 years old now. Good luck. My heart goes
out to you. Sincerely, Laura.”
Douglas smiled. He finally felt some real hope. And why not? Here was a
person who also had cancer at a young age and now she was 22 and working!
If she could do it, so could he. Douglas found what he needed. He found
the will to live.
Little things make a big difference. Little things like kindness and
encouragement and hope. Little things all of us can give.
And it doesn't take much to make a big difference.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another.”
Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Galatians 6:2-4 “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall
he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Romans 15:1-4 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the
weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour
for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as
it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me. For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: HE WANTED ME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony88.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
