Kindness

I don’t understand this world we live in. I don’t understand all of the division. I don’t understand why color or views or opinions would make a difference in the way we treat people.

I have always tried to treat everyone the way I wanted to be treated. When I was done wrong I have never wished bad on anyone. I know that sometimes things have to happen a certain way, and I know that I will be lead through the storm by God if I just keep my eyes on him and follow his lead. What I can’t figure out is why is this such a foreign concept in this day and time?

I understand that people tend to be a product of their environment, but I also think you choose to be kind, loving, and mindful of the situation of another. My youngest son put this on display for me a few years back. I love telling this story, because it is one of those proud parent moments. The kind of moment that shows you that as parents you’re doing something right.

Christopher comes home from school one afternoon I had gotten off early so I was there when he walked in. He walks straight past me without a word so I knew something was troubling him. I walk into his bedroom where he is sitting, head down, visibly upset. This was completely out of character for him, anyone that knows him knows how smiley and happy he is normally. I ask him what’s wrong, he looks up and begins to tell me about the playground at school that day. “We were picking teams to play a game and this kid told my friend he wasn’t going to pick him because he was too small, said he was a nothing.” Well I have always raised Christopher to stand up for others and he was one of the biggest kids in his class so I asked what he had said to that boy. “I didn’t say anything to him Daddy. I told Sarean that he was my friend, and that makes him something.”

At seven years old my baby knew enough to know that admonishing the bully wouldn’t fix the situation, but encouraging his friend could change the whole day. Instead of speaking death into the life of the bully he chose to speak life into his friend. He chose to be there for the one who needed him, and chose to react with kindness instead of hostility. As adults why do we have such a hard time with this. Why would we rather lash out at the offender than comfort the offended. Why is it easier to speak death into a person you don’t agree with than it is to speak life into their heart because they are a human who needs love just like you. Today perform an act of kindness for someone who won’t expect it or maybe in your opinion doesn’t deserve it. I bet after you see the reaction you’ll want to do it again.

I love you.