Being KIND in a CRUEL World

What would it be like if YOU woke up every morning and your husband or your wife or your parents or your brothers or your sisters or your friends or those you meet along the day's journey made an intentional effort every single day to be kind towards you? How would you feel? What type of day would you most likely have? Would the extra effort to show kindness brighten your day? Would you feel the Father's love poured out on yourself? How amazing would it be to feel, experience, and know that those around you are making intentional ways to be kind and show kindness towards you?

The Bibles says in Proverbs 11:17 (ESV), "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." Another translation (NLT) says it this way, "Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you."

• The primitive root word for kind or kindness in the verse above is chacad which literally means to be good, to be kind, and to show kindness to oneself. 

What an amazing verse in the Bible! Not only do you bless those around you when you make a diligent effort to be kind BUT the verse says it BENEFITS or REWARDS the one who is kind! That's powerful!

The reality in 2014 is that most people by nature are cruel. No one wants to even think that. No one wants to come out and admit, "Yes, I am cruel!". The word cruel sounds so blunt and hurtful but let's just look at a few synonyms related to it. Words that portray cruel are bitter, harsh, painful, spiteful, hateful, unkind. We shy away from directly saying that which lurks inside the dark areas of our hearts. Our hope is found in Proverbs 11:17 because we are given a choice. We can choose to be kind or we can choose to be cruel. We can choose to hurt ourselves or we can choose to reward ourselves through a lifestyle of kindness. God gives you a choice. Choose kindness!

 To help you jump-start your decision to be kind today and in the days to come these following suggestions may be helpful to you to choose to be kind....

1. Write a sticky-note of encouragement. Be specific.
2. Make an intentional effort to call a friend and just tell them you were thinking of them today. Pray over the phone for them. You will be amazed at the results.
3. Write a heartfelt email to your spouse, family, or friend. Be specific.
4. Text a "thank you" to someone who has really blessed you. Be specific. 
5. Sow a book, CD, or even a small gift to someone you have never sent one.
6. Call your Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, In-laws and just tell them you love them. Be specific. 
7. Pay for breakfast, lunch or dinner and treat someone to a meal. Relationships are priceless. 
8. Husbands: ASK for a honey-do list and try to actually finish it. Your wife will feel loved! 
9. Wives: Food is one of the best medicines for men. Find a unique recipe that fits the taste of your spouse. He will feel loved, respected, and extremely happy. 
10. Siblings: Take one of your sisters or brothers and spend a full day with them. Rebuild relationship. Go travel together, invest time together. 
11. Parents: Kindness to children is needed! If you feel cruelty they feel it twice more. Just spend TIME. Carve the time out. Make it a priority. 
12. Bless your spiritual fathers, mothers, friends who invest Godly influence into you with a monetary blessing. Random blessings produces encouragement. Be generous to those who care for you! 

Choose Kindness! 

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