Tag: kindness

Encourage One Another

My daughter does the coolest things. I want to be more like her. We were out and about one day, when this lady walked past us. My daughter looks at her  and says, “I love your shoes!” Y’all the lady just beamed. I had never seen someone light up so quickly!

We continued on, and I asked my daughter, “What made you do that?” Elizabeth isn’t one to just talk to talk, especially to someone she doesn’t know. She explained that she has been seeing so much negativity in the world, so many harsh comments and criticisms, that she has decided to do what she can to spread more positivity. So, she looks for ways to make people smile, and she has found that offering compliments is something that works. 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

She lives this verse in her daily life. Everyday, she keeps an eye out on the people around her. She determines that she is going to encourage and build up those that God puts in her path. Sometimes, she has opportunities to build up someone she knows well, sometimes it’s an opportunity to encourage a stranger that she passes on the sidewalk or at a restaurant.

She is so intentional that she sets a goal for herself – specifically how many people she wants to encourage. Then, she goes about her day intentionally looking for those around her that she can lift up.

I know that Paul wrote this passage to the Thessalonians. I know that he was telling Christians to build up one another in the faith. I don’t want it to seem like I am attempting to take this out of context. As Christians, we are called to be a light in a dark world. We come into contact with so many people everyday whose stories we do not know. We have no idea what battles they are fighting. We don’t know what inner struggles they are dealing with. Why bother to say anything to a stranger that we will probably never see again? Because it is a way that we can encourage someone else and shine for Jesus. No, we may never have the opportunity to share Christ with that person, but we shouldn’t miss an opportunity to shine for Him. We can plant the seeds of kindness which in turn offer people hope. Hope that there is something better out there than this dark world. 

I challenge you today, pick a number. Then, seek ways to encourage that many people today. Not only will it encourage them, it will also lift the burdens in your heart. God knew exactly what He was doing when He told us to encourage one another. The person doing the encouraging receives just as much encouragement and joy from being the encourager as the one who is being encouraged.

Clothed in Kindness

One of the difficult things about living in our society today is that regardless of the choice you make, you will be criticized. Let’s talk about schools for a moment. There are parents who do not want to send their kids back to school in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. There are parents who are ready to send their kids back to school in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. Both groups are concerned for the well-being of their children. Both groups are trying to decide what is best for their family. 

There are teachers who do not want to start back in person in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. There are teachers who do want to start back in person in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. Both groups are working crazy hours to plan for both. They are trying to figure out how to best educate the precious kiddos in their classes while keeping them safe. They are thinking outside the box. They are spending money out of their own family budget to do what it takes.

There are administrators who want to start back in person in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. There are administrators who do not want to start back in person in the fall. They have very legitimate reasons. They are working crazy hours trying to create options that will work for everyone. They are literally trying to please everyone. That is not even possible, but they are trying. There is no playbook for this. Every solution comes with its own challenges that they are trying to plan for and resolve in advance.

Do you see the common theme here? There are three groups of people in our society who are in a lose-lose situation. It doesn’t matter what the parent decides, someone will criticize. It doesn’t matter what the teacher does, someone will criticize. It doesn’t matter what solutions the administrators try, someone will criticize.

The reality is, there is no one right answer. Every family has to decide what is best for their child and that is the right answer for them. Every teacher has to decide what is best for her and her family and that is the right answer. Every administrator is trying diligently to support all of this by providing options. They are trying to provide a right answer for everyone.

What can the rest of us do? Show kindness.

Christ set the most beautiful example for us in scripture. He fed the hungry, He healed the sick, He listened to the hurting. We are charged with showing the same level of kindness to those around us.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12

The people around us are making some very difficult decisions. They are doing the absolute best they can. Instead of judging or criticizing, how can we show kindness?