05.Gratitude.Thank you for your kindness

Nov 6, 2024 | Connection, Encouragement, Thanksgiving | 0 comments

“Be kind to yourself,” my counselor often said.. She never raised her voice, but she spoke firmly and I do remember her interrupting me to say, “the words. “Be kind to yourself.”

I still interrupt a downward spiral of stinkin’ thinkin’ to say, “Be kind to yourself.”

Knowing their thoughts, he (JESUS) said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”

MATTHEW 12:25 (ESV)

Jesus said these words when his enemies accused him of using demonic power to cast out demons. How ridiculous that would be, he says. That would be a kingdom divided against itself, and we all know division is a recipe for disaster.

Love covers a multitude of sin, and kindness can be a balm to division.

Remember kindness. Do kindness

Civil war does not make for a strong nation, sister war does not make for a nurturing family, and war within does not create peace.

How do we survive divisive days? We remember kindness. We do kindness.

I did not say, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Being nice is not the same as being kind. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is say something that might not be considered nice.

If my glass leaves a ring on the table, the friend who hands me a coaster is being kind. If I keep leaving the gate ajar, the friend who shows me how to secure the latch has done me a kindness.

Saying nothing is not the same as speaking kindness. I am not kind when I bite my tongue while I seethe with anger.

Silence has its place. I’m all for the discipline of “shutting the gate” of my lips. I call gatekeeping a “discipline” because I’m a woman of many words, and silence is work for me. But seething silence is not kind.

The kindness I’m prescribing today is active.

I may be at odds at work. I may disagree with a family member. My friend’s post on social media may make my stomach churn.

But we are all more than one thing. We can all remember a kindness done and do a kindness. Even if we disagree.

Kindness remembered and done is a way of giving thanks anyway.

Come Alongside

Who seems like an enemy to you today? Please don’t answer that question in the comments. No one needs to know.

Truth is, that person isn’t your enemy. I won’t go into that mindblowing truth here, but if you want a reminder read Ephesians 6.

Being thankful is hard in the middle of division. But kindness is a means of giving thanks anyway. Remember a kindness done. Choose to do a kindness.

For example, if you are a house divided against yourself, look in the mirror and thank yourself for that coffee you made, that new toothbrush you bought, or that Scripture you posted on the mirror weeks ago, not knowing you’d need it today. Remember a kindness. Then do yourself a kindness as you walk out your door and take a minute to breathe in the beauty of God’s creation before you get in the car.

You can follow the same principle with a brother, a spouse. or a coworker. Remember a simple kindness done. Do a simple kindness. And give thanks anyway?

Does that seem simplistic? Will you try it anyway? Let me know in the comments if a little bit of kindness made even a tiny bit of difference for you.

Traveling in Grace,

Christi

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Ride along with Christi and share her God moments, conversations with strangers and friends, and the struggles and blessings of living on the road. You’ll see God at work, be strengthened by Scripture, and encouraged to join in as a travel companion with your comments and concerns. The Come Alongside Blog (CAB) is the heartbeat of Come Alongside Ministries (CAM)—where you experience the thump-thump-thump of life along the way.

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