Wednesday, January 17, 2018

I should be kind.

For the past few weeks, the preschool class I teach on Wednesday nights has been working on the Giraffe Badge.  It stands for, "I should be kind."   

Mark Twain said this about kindness. 

"Kindness is a language the dumb can speak, the deaf can hear, and the blind can see." 

In the 1970's, there was a comedy show that I use to watch, and one of the characters said this, “It's nice, to be nice, to the nice."  

True words!  It's easier to show kindness to a kind person, but what if someone isn't nice?  What if a person is undeserving in our opinion?  Does it give us a free pass to withhold kindness when it's within our power to give it? 

I'm glad that God doesn't measure how He will show kindness according to that principle.

In 2 Samuel 9, David was at a great place in life.  He was at peace with his enemies.  His Kingdom was established. He had trusted people surrounding him.  David must of recognized his good fortune was only because of God's great kindness.  

While David kicked back and enjoyed his good life, the Bible tells us that he remembered Jonathan, and asked this question. “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?”  If you have time today to read the whole chapter of 2 Samuel 9--do it, you'll be blessed.  

David was true to his word and blessed the son of his friend with kindness to the point of welcoming him to sit at his table.  The last phrase of this chapter amazes me.  It says,  But both his feet were crippled.  

Now, why did we need to know that, I wonder?

The son of Jonathan was called Mephibosheth.  His crippled feet would have made him an outcast in that day.  Yet, David showed kindness to him by giving him a place at his table.  That sounds a lot like something Jesus would do, give an outcast a seat at His table.

The thing about kindness is...it should be extend to all.  That includes the annoying telemarketer that calls at dinner time, the cashier who messed up the order, the waitress who dropped coffee in your lap, your annoying family members, the imperfect folks at church, the pastor and even the person you need to rebuild relationship with.  I don't know who that is, but you do.  

This week, slow down and ask yourself the same question David asked, "Who can I show kindness to?"  Let the Lord lay that person on your heart...then repeat after me, "I should be kind."






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