I love the idea of Random Acts of Kindness-it’s a beautiful way to spread love and joy in our broken world.
With a few dollars or a few minutes, I have the opportunity to make someone’s day brighter, their burden lighter and remind them that not everyone is “out to get them”.
BUT-as I’ve written before here: Relational Acts of Kindness, it’s relatively easy to do my good deed and walk away.
When I bless a stranger, my work is done.
I feel good, they feel good-it’s all good.
I find it much harder to purpose to be kind every day to the people I actually KNOW-the one who may have said cutting things in the past, the one who consistently rubs me the wrong way, the one I feel is lazy or subversive or just holds opinions with which I disagree.
How about the one I thought would show up to help but didn’t? Or the one who has told tales about me or my family? The one who lets her children run wild at church? The one who makes others uncomfortable with her dress, or language, or lack of social skill?
Being kind to THAT person is hard.
I want to turn the other way. I want to make excuses. I want to pretend that my kindness toward strangers balances my lack of kindness to those with whom I walk daily.
It doesn’t.
I am called to be kind at precisely that place where it is most difficult. I am called to act in love toward just that person who is most unloveable. I am called to lay down my life where it looks most likely to be unappreciated.
Denying myself is the very method by which Christ builds His kingdom.
Offering my body as a living sacrifice is the pressure He applies to mold my flesh into His likeness
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen lord it over them and that their great ones have absolute power? But it must not be so among you. No, whoever among you wants to be great must become the servant of you all, and if he wants to be first among you he must be your slave—just as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set many others free.”
Matthew 20:27-29 PHILLIPS
I recently came across your blog, I was immediately drawn to it , and signed up to follow it. Like you, I am a mother of 4 beautiful children, one residing in Heaven. It has been 26 months, since my 3 son, Benjamin (13 1/2) left us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and your memories. So often they mirror. Mine.
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Kathie, I am so very sorry for your loss and your pain. I wish no mother had to be parted from her child in this life. It is a very hard journey. I’m thankful the blog is helpful to you. You are not far behind me in this journey-nearly 3 years for me now. I pray that the Lord will give you the strength you need for each day and that He will be very present in the lives of your surviving children as they miss their brother. May He fill all your hearts with His love, grace and mercy. Love to you, dear one.
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So true xx
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