Be Kind

Where does kindness come from?

If you know me, you may already know my answer, and you have probably already guessed that I have put zero "research" into my answer. I could argue that my life has been a study, full of research, as I've certainly run across my share of kind and unkind people in the last 5 decades. Here's what I have found:

Kindness comes from stepping out of yourself and seeing things from someone else's perspective. It's part of the "Do unto others..." plan of living. If someone is having a bad day, and you can see that they are having a bad day, kindness comes from the ability to imagine what you might need from the next person you meet if you were having a bad day. 

Kindness comes from empathy. When you take a moment to try and feel what the other person feels, or to even think about feeling that way, you may be better equipped to meet them in their moment. Whether the emotion is happiness or sorrow, joy or grief, anger or hope, empathy allows us to join our lives together and help bear the burdens of others. It's like helping someone pick up the emotional "groceries" that have just spilled out of their bags and onto the street.

Kindness comes from thinking ahead. I often have a quick answer at the ready...but many times, it is not the right answer. I am more kind when I go over those words in my head, before they fall out of my mouth, thinking carefully about whether or not they are words I would welcome. Notice an error, and you want to tell them about it (just to be helpful, of course)? Stop and think about how helpful it will be. Perhaps it doesn't need to be said. Especially when it cannot be reversed (time only moves forward)...it is not super helpful to know (or think that) everyone around you is judging your mistake.

Kindness, for me, comes from a place of love. If I know you, I'd probably like to like you. I'd like for you to feel loved, special, valued and even treasured. I love to watch people bloom when they are seen and heard. 

Think of the way most people treat young children. There is grace for the mistakes, gentle correction, loving guidance and shared joy at the victories. At heart, we all still want that. But, in a world where many have encountered the unkind far too often, some people have lost hope that kindness still exists. Let's work together to bring the hope back.

Let's be patient. Let's be kind. Let's persevere in our hope and trust, and let's invite people into kindness everywhere we go. After all, it only takes a moment to smile and be nice...and I usually have a moment. Don't you?

Thanks for stopping by, friends. I hope that today is a good day for you! If it is a struggle, I hope that you are met with small kindnesses along the way, a reflection of the kindness you share despite your current struggles.

Be kind, and Knit in Good Health. 

This...because it is a knitting blog, too!

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.    (Matthew 7:12)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.     (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)