Be Kind

The Apostle Paul wrote such a practical, common sense, good Word when he wrote, "...be kind to one another..."  (Ephesians 4:32)  Actually, there is a lot of kindness out there in the world.  Some may only see the bad stuff which highlights the news these days, but it is still not hard to witness the kindness of folks for one another.  It happens in simple acts like holding a door open for someone, or picking up something another has dropped, or as was seen the other day, paying for the meal of a couple of soldiers who waited in line at a sandwich and soup place.    

There are times when we say outlandish things like, "the world is going to hell in a hand basket"  and indeed it does seem true at times.  But, regardless of the bad stuff, the goodness in folks is still a pervasive part of our culture.  Being kind to one another has a way of transcending cultural barriers like race, religion, nationality, and economic status.  When we see it being expressed around us, we are not always surprised by it because it is so commonplace, but surely there are other times when we are genuinely taken back by what we are privileged to witness.   

When the Apostle Paul wrote his admonition, he called the believers to choose kindness over such things as "bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with malice..."(Ephesians 4:31)  It is a good word for each one of us as individuals who seek to follow Christ and it is also a good word for us as we gather in places like churches and the marketplace.  The one thing which seems to get in the way of our ability to express kindness for one another is an ego which thinks far too much of itself.  A huge ego keeps us from living as a servant which is the mode of operation for those who choose to be kind to one another.