Almost without a doubt I can say that behind every rude comment, dirty look, or grouchy disposition is a hurting person. Can we, as God’s chosen people, choose to be kind no matter what?
God continues to show me that a kind answer truly does turn away wrath. It’s as if choosing to do what He instructs in the Bible actually works. Weird.
Always Be Kind
There are days I am so tired I can’t see straight. Still, I must be kind. People have spat out biting words, have verbally disapproved of my choices, and have questioned my motives. It hurts. I want to become defensive. But when I respond in kindness, the person softens.
People have been angry with me for saying “no,” for setting healthy boundaries, for doing what God wants instead of what they want. I’m tempted to lash out. But when I take a step back, pray, and respond in kindness, the person softens.
Often I feel justified in letting someone know my side of the story. How dare someone get frustrated or angry with me?
But kindness is the right response. Always, always, always be kind.
Friends, we aren’t entitled. No one owes us anything. People may spew out cutting remarks that “we don’t deserve.” Not everyone is seeking Jesus and therefore, not everyone will act like Him. This shouldn’t shock us. This shouldn’t offend us. This shouldn’t make us step up indignantly with an ungodly retort.
Most definitely we should not spit out our grievances to friends or on social media, getting others to join our side with, “I can’t believe that happened to you! What is wrong with people these days!?” This invites the enemy to set up camp. He sees his chance to be a part of something gross and he eagerly grabs on. “Let’s do this together,” he says. “I’ll give you more hurtful words. I’ll provide you with wonderful responses. I’ll put more indignant people on your side. Oh, it’s on.”
Lord, forgive us.
Consider Jesus’ response to all who opposed Him. Never did He give an eye-roll and spit out, “Did you really just say that to me? Do you even know who I am?”
Because obviously the people didn’t know who He was and Jesus knew that. His response was compassion. “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Can we learn to respond to ugliness like Jesus did? Can we practice surrender of self and a heart full of grace toward the hurting? Can we react to biting remarks with gentleness and compassion?
The world tells us that this makes us weak. Truth tells us that this makes us strong. After all, it’s easy to disregard self-control, to vomit up the first ugly retort that comes to mind, to meditate on a hurtful conversation, and to nurse bitterness. But it takes great strength to do what is right. One who relies on God’s strength to truly show love in adversity displays incredible wisdom and courage.
People will wrong you. Hurt people will react in the only ways they know and have been taught. The broken have forgotten to smile and are unable to look up, unable to recognize hope and goodness. It’s up to God’s people to shine light through the darkness.
Let the Lord be at work in you. Deny yourself, pick up your cross, realize the Truth within you that has set you free.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit and let His fruit pour out as you look beyond the circumstances and into the heart of the hurting.
Always, always, always be kind.
Laura, Thank you so much for not only encouraging me over the last 7 years with healthy recipes and information , but also with spiritual encouragement and conviction. You have no idea how much God has used you in a big way in my life to help me grow closer to Him. I don’t know you personally but am so thankful for Him putting you in my life through your website. Praying He continues to keep using you in a mighty way. Keep up the good fight and Thank you again for all the wonderful recipes! My family is super blessed by them. My all time favorite would have to be your Alfredo sauce recipe. Yum :)
Thank you for this post. It is exactly what I needed to hear today.
Such wise words… thank you for doing what is right and for encouraging us to do so. Let’s all be kind in our own corner of the world.
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for this post!
I have a quote on my refrigerator from Og Mandino titled,
“You never regret kindness” He says, “treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead y midnight. Extend all the care, kindness, and understanding you can, with no thought of reward, and your life will never be the same.”
Thank you for reminding me to be kind. We all have days where we mess up. But Thank God that He is always there to love us, and to remind us if need be that we are to model our lives after his example. All we need is faith and trust!!!
Thanks again!
Chris
Yes – this is what I am stressing in our schooling every.single.day! Had to share this one with my children…and they had to admit “mommy is not the only one who keeps on saying this every.single.day!”
Thank you from mommy of 7, from 11 months to 16 years.
May you continue to be blessed, as you continue to be a great blessing to so many others!!
Excellent post. Thank you so much for continuing to speak the truth. And I so appreciate the humility and simplicity with which you write. I feel like I’m sitting with you in your kitchen. You are a blessing! (And I just have to say – yours is the only blog that I have never unsubscribed from. Not kidding. I think it’s been 6 years.)
Thank you Laura! An “Amen and Amen” raised to His ears for this post!
So good. So hard. Thank you.
Thank you Laura for this post; was just what I needed to hear today.
Our church is going through a really rough time at the moment; and I would like your permission to share this with them; we all seem to have lost our kindness along the way and need these words to be reminded again that we follow Christ and not a religion; that we need to be kinder to each other and look beyond the hateful words to the hurt inside.
Absolutely, please do share. :)
Truly, thanks for your post. I too have been thinking more about universal kindness lately. I think you might not limit your audience to “God’s chosen people”… regardless of our position on Calvinism or just interpretation of this phrase. Not completely understanding our role in this world doesn’t give us a pass on being kind.