Being in their presence is like sitting in sunshine...

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in a man’s heart weights him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Kindness.  What is kindness?  Who are the kindest people you know?  Isn’t being in their presence like sitting in sunshine?  Kind people make you glad to be alive; they help you see beyond the fog of worry or discontentment.

Jesus tells us in John 15:12 to “Love one another, as I have loved you”.  I believe Jesus is telling us to be kind, always and to everyone.  Our Lord exemplified kindness by healing the sick, pouring himself out for the crowds who gathered to touch Him or hear Him.  It is important for us to remember He was human, just as you and I.

What does living a life of kindness mean?  To me, kindness is curbing an impulse to speak sharply, refrain from complaining or gossiping, send a card, or visit a shut-in.  Kindness means realizing we are not perfect and that harsh words will escape us in a moment of stress.  During these times it is kindness that should motivate us to make a sincere apology.  What we say, often lasts longer than we realize.  The wonderful thing about kindness is it works as a double blessing.  The individual who offers kindness gets as much or more out of the deed as the recipient.

As we prepare to celebrate Easter, perhaps we should focus a little more on kindness.  Positive words can be life affirming and fill a person with confidence and the security they need to walk with God even when it is scary or uncomfortable. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, when I am tempted to make judgments about the actions, behaviors, even the looks of others as a way of making myself feel better, come to my aid and bring about in me a spirit of contentment, a spirit of gratitude. Help me to treat each person I encounter as I would like to be treated, and fill me with loving kindness so that my thoughts, words, and deeds flow from your spirit of unconditional Love.  Amen.

Written by Elizabeth Lutz