OH LORD GOD, LET US FORGET NOT TO BE KIND
Kindness, a simple act that can mean so much. In church last Sunday our Preacher talked about kindness, and then in my woman’s study group, we once again talked on the same subject. That was twice in one 2 hour period of time. Kindness is not something that costs a lot of money, and it is easily given. So why would my Preacher and Sunday school teacher both feel the need to have a lesson plan based around the subject?
If you saw my post on Wednesday, you read about me talking about negativity. I had a couple of anonymous commenters that left less than kind comments. That is not a random occurrence. I have heard many bloggers talk about this same issue. Celebrities experience unkind comments on a regular basis. Is this because people on the internet, or on television and movies, don’t seem like “real” people?
Do you practice kindness is your daily life? How many of us will let someone pull in front of us when you are in a long line of traffic? How about when you see someone with only a few items in the checkout line at the grocery store? We can extend small acts of kindness easily, so why do we let the enemy bring out the worst in us?
There has been a small movement recently, where strangers “pay it forward.” I have only experienced this once in my life, and I was shocked when it happened. I was traveling to a woman’s club meeting, and I had to go on a toll road. When I pulled up to pay my toll, the toll booth worker handed me a slip of paper that said someone had paid my toll. I thanked them, gave them my toll and told them to pay the driver’s toll behind me. I have no idea how many other drivers in the line did the same thing.
A small act of kindness can create a large ripple. This week lets start the ripple. Let’s send waves of kindness across the world. I would love for you to share acts of kindness that you have received or forwarded to someone else. It would be inspirational, and others might like to extend the same acts in other parts of the country.
I leave you with a prayer written by Mary Stewart in 1904. This is the woman’s club collect that is recited at every woman’s club meeting I attend.
Keep us, O God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and
leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each
other face to face — without self-pity
and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment and
always generous.
Let us take time for all things;
make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straightforward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize it is the little
things that create differences,
that in the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know the great,
common human heart of us all, and
O Lord God, let us forget not to be kind!
–Mary Stewart
Have a blessed weekend!
Thank you for today’s post about kindness. A good reminder, for sure. A few years ago I had a major surgery and we were financially strapped at the time. In the mail one day, my husband and I received a money order for $500 in an unsigned Get Well card. To this day we don’t know who sent the money. Of course we speculated about who it might have been- possibly a relative or someone from our church, but we still don’t know. What I haven’t forgotten was the kindness and selflessness extended to us in our time of need. God is so good and sometimes I am overwhelmed by the loving kindness extended through his people. Thank you, Tania, for your blog. It is a blessing and a breath of fresh air.
In my local woman’s club we have a “Kelly Award” that honors a member that displays the essence of one of our deceased members. That honoree is given a stipend to “pay it forward” in Kelly’s honor. I love the stories of how these members have helped others. My husband and I do this often. Usually for young families or veterans. But especially waitresses. My son does this a lot at McDonalds and Starbucks! He loves to look in the mirror and see their happy reaction.
Thank you for sharing you with us! We should all strive to encourage each other everyday and love each other. That is what Jesus would have us do! Love and prayers!
Your message is sweet and I like to view your daily outfits. Of course, I like some more than others. But it does occur to me that to continue to dwell on those things that are not of God and not what we believe about ourselves, like bad manners/comments, makes those things real in our lives and gives them permission to rent space in our mind. If I accept every person’s opinion about myself, I am allowing them define who I am.
I have just recently started following you on a regular basis. I love your sense of humor, your positive attitude and thoughts, your sense of style and your self confidence. Your posts are fabulous and I look forward to see what each new day brings ! You go girl !!!!! And thanks for being such a bright spot in all our days ! God bless you !
Do you mean “let us not forget to be kind?”
Thank you for reminding us to all be kind. It really does make a huge difference in people’s lives.
My husband and I were putting gas one day and there was a young man in a pretty beaten up car. He was dressed nice. He had his hood up and was talking to another man. I guess the man was telling him he needed a battery and the young man looked upset.
My husband and I agreed to give him $100. We were going out to buy stuff for our house – things that we could certainly do without or wait on.
I watched from our vehicle as my husband gave him the money. The young man looked so shocked and so thankful. He started crying. My husband hugged him and told him God loved him. They chatted for a moment and my husband got in our car.
My husband told me the young man hag just moved from a small town where there were no jobs. He was on his way to a job he had just gotten and was afraid if he didn’t make it they might fire him. The money we gave him would allow him to buy a battery so he could get to work.
Even though we were able to help him we received the bigger blessing. Just being able to help some random person.
The act of kindness doesn’t even have to involve money. Just a smile, holding the door for someone, even a have a blessed day – will lighten up someones face.
May God bless each and every one of you.
I just found you this morning when I googled “fashion for old ladies” on pinterest. I’m 56 and am frustrated with seeing fashion advice for the size 2 group. I didn’t realize when I started reading how your blog and blog replies would touch me. Thank you all for way more than fashion ideas.
Very true, Tania! Thank you for sharing your heart.
Thank you for this post….Always a good reminder and life goal. <3