You Never Go Wrong By Being Kind

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"You never go wrong by being kind." ~ Marilyn Lear

A little kindness goes a long way, and a very wise woman, (my mom) always said "You never go wrong by being kind." I have always tried to follow in her footsteps and share kindness freely and generously.

I remember chatting with Mom on many occasions and asking her advice regarding whether I should or should not reach out to specific people who were going through hard times.  My mom's answer was always the same. She would say "Why would you even hesitate? You never go wrong by being kind." Truer words were never spoken.

In Ephesians 4:32 in the Living Bible it specifically instructs us to be kind to each other. It states:  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. Let's unpack this verse together. 

Be Kind and Tenderhearted to One Another 

In the first part of this verse, it gives a very clear directive to us as believers. We are told to be kind and tenderhearted with each other. When we are tenderhearted, we exhibit grace and empathy with others. Having a tender heart means you are moved by compassion and open to God's leading. You have an attitude that if someone you know is in a bad way, you can be the answer to his or her prayers simply by being an encourager in some way. 

Encouragement comes in many forms. It could be a card, an email, a basket of muffins, or even as simple as a timely hug. Never underestimate the power of a small gesture. Sometimes those make the biggest impact on those who are hurting. 

Forgive Others As I Have Forgiven You

To experience all that God has for us we are to have a forgiving nature, just as Christ does. He does not keep a record of our wrongs, and he looks beyond our faults and sees our needs. We are to emulate that to the world. We are told in his word to be the hands and feet of Christ.  Forgiveness is not always easy. It can be quite a complicated process, but God will help us to do this if we ask him. For more advice on just how to implement forgiveness into your everyday life click here. 

We Belong to Christ

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The fact that this verse says we "belong to Christ," gives me goosebumps. The Almighty God calls us his own. We are so unworthy, yet he still looks at us and says "See those people right there? I love them so much and they are MINE! "

If we are representatives of Jesus, we must model his characteristics. This is not always easy as we are only human. When Christ is in us however, we have the capacity to love in a supernatural way. The "above and beyond factor" has been imparted to us as God's children. I don't know about you, but I want to be able to say at the end of my life that I left NOTHING on the table. I want to love as he loved, bless others as he did and always take time to be kind. 

The beautiful thing about kindness is that what you give out comes right back to you. What do you say? Let's start a kindness boomerang.

Tuck that in your heart today.

Dear Heavenly Father: Thank you for the kindness that you continuously bestow on us. Help us to do the same for others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sending you a virtual hug,

Dana

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Author

Dana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, author, social worker, blogger and speaker. She has a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement. She lives in Canada with her husband and two grown children. When she is not working in the classroom or writing, she enjoys drinking coffee, watching Netflix and reading great books. ​

Tags: kindness, kindness boomerang, kindness chain, hands and feet of Christ, Ephesians 4:32, forgiveness

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