Thursday, January 14, 2010

Living Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

KINDNESS~ Seeing needs in the lives of others as opportunities to demonstrate my love for Christ.

I received this message in a thank you card. After reading it many times and holding on to it for a long while, it was strong on my heart that I should teach this to our children. It's a loaded statement! Being truly KIND goes much deeper than just using your manners.

It's a heart matter.

It's a where's my relationship with Christ matter.

This whole month along side our morning Bible and prayer time, we are discussing KINDNESS. We are digging in to the above description of KINDNESS and have spent time looking up and memorizing scriptures to support God's call for us to be KIND.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Eph. 4:32

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." Gal. 5:22

"But love your enemies, and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." Luke 6:35

These are just a few that we have looked at so far....

Seeing needs in others. I asked what they thought that meant. Most of their answers were big...like if someone needed food or a house. Yes, they are absolutely right! But I encouraged them to keep their eyes open for the little needs that are all around us daily. Maybe they could pick up a pencil that dropped on the floor. Maybe someone needs a KIND word of encouragement. How about instead of the first one to recess that you are the last to ask your teacher if they need help or push in the chairs that are left out? What about the kid in class that treats you badly? How could you be kind to them??

What about us as parents?? How do we see the needs in others?

What we do...our children will do!!

By showing KINDNESS to others, we are ultimately showing our love for Christ!!

We are showing THE LOVE OF CHRIST!!

"We love, because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19

To show true KINDNESS we must deny self. We must put Christ first, others second and ourselves last. Daily pick up that heavy cross and move forward...

It's a choice.

Do you love Christ??

Then I challenge you seek out opportunities to demonstrate that love to others!! Even those we think deserve that kindness the least...

You WILL be blessed!
=) ~Tina

2 comments:

Danae Hudson said...

You might enjoy this blog:

http://ark4god.blogspot.com/

A Random Act of Kindness for God. It's about little things you can do to make someone else's day better through kindness and God's love.

Shonni said...

What a wonderful definition for kindness...I love it. Thank you for sharing this.