Remember Kindness

Floyd continues to have "good" days.  His smiles are more frequent - he has enough strength to be a little feisty when he doesn't like some of the treatment - his breathing is good - his chest is relatively clear - and he is at peace.  I consider all these things to be an answer to prayer.  I'm so grateful.

He had another overseas guest - the 2nd one in about 2 weeks.  This is always very special for him.  The new, but familiar, faces seem to bring him joy.......and a pleasant change from the "regular" faces. :) 

I don't know if I've ever lived through a period in my life when it seems like there is so much happening in the world that seems overwhelming.  I don't even want to mention all the things - but the news is filled with disaster, turmoil, destruction, uncertainly, sickness - the list is endless.  Right in our own local area there has been violence, sorrow, and unrest.  It's so heart-breaking.

The news is truly overload!  I've gotten to where I don't want to hear any more.  I want to read a book or see a feel good movie.  The world events on top of our personal events just feels so overpowering.  When these feelings come, I know I need to turn to the Lord.  I take time to speak out each thing that feels so massive.  I give the weight and burden of it to the Lord.  I pray for answers and resolutions to things that only God can solve.

As I do this, the weight begins to lift from my spirit.  I know I can't "carry" these things.  The burden will destroy me if I'm not careful.  I do what I can.  I intercede.  And I keep my focus on the Lord, not on the problems.

With these things on my mind, I woke up this morning to a post someone sent me on kindness......with 354 responses!  It obviously struck a cord.  The message of the post was to take time to be kind - to look for ways to be kind.  The writer gave an example from her own life of an act of kindness that meant the world to her.

But what really blew me away was all the responses!  From tiny, tiny acts of kindness - to HUGE, amazing ones.......people's lives have been impacted and changed by kindness.  I was so blessed just reading of all the thoughtful expressions.  I immediately thought of all the love and kindness I've received on our unexpected journey - from friends, family, and people I've never even met.  My burden has been easier to bear because of all the acts of kindness that have come my way.

So - circling back to all the heavy things going on in the world.  A little kindness goes a long way to making life seem more bearable in the face of so many problems.  The world needs our acts of kindness.  I have a fresh resolve in my heart to find ways to be kind.  Just yesterday I stopped to help (with my arms full of grocery bags) an elderly lady with a walker standing looking puzzled at an escalator.  I asked if I could help.  The smile that lit up her face was a precious treasure.   

And I can't help but think of all the times that God has been "kind" to me in the face of my needs, my weakness, my failures.  He is the ultimate giver of love and kindness, and shows the way for us to express that to those around us.  He is our example of how to be a giver of kindness!  We can be the face of God in being kind.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."  Galatians 5:22,23

"Love is patient and kind."  1 Corinthians 13:4

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Colossians 3:12

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another.' "  Zechariah 7:9 

I'm quite amazed at all the verses about kindness.  I could go on and on in listing them.  The Bible is full of instruction to be kind.....with many examples.  It certainly is what is needed in the world in which we live. 

The post I mentioned above told of a sign on the counter at a coffee shop:  "Remember kindness.  It only takes a moment to make someone else's day a little brighter."  I’m so grateful to everyone who has taken a moment to make my day, my life brighter through kindness to me on this journey!!   

Recently I have had some rough days.  I'm not sure why, but every once in a while the side effects of the treatment I'm on seem to notch up a level and hit me hard.  I'm in the midst of that now.  

In my quiet time this morning I went to Jeremiah 17:5-8.  Someone had sent me these verses a few days ago.  It's a rich passage of dependency on God.  The person encouraged me to wait expectantly to see how God’s grace is going to work on our continuing journey.

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.  That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.  They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.  But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."  

I love these verses.  When drought (hard days) come - God will carry me.  He will keep my leaves green in spite of the heat as I stay planted by His living water.  It so encourages me to know that when I'm having a rough day, nothing has changed for God.  His sufficient grace is there.  His faithfulness is strong and secure.  His strength in my weakness is still abundant.  He is still close beside me, holding my hand.  He is still just a whisper away if I need Him.  He has never left me - not even for one second.  I can relax and rest in Him.

I don't know what the day holds.  I have no idea how the coming days will unfold.  And I certainly don't know what is ahead in the months to come.  But I know who is with me - Emmanuel.  I take a deep breath and lean into His everlasting, unfailing arms of support.

Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost for His Highest" writes: “We are gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but certain that He will come in.” 

What a wonderful confidence we have in Him!