Kindness

Hello darlings!

Recently I finished listening to an audiobook of Candace Cameron Bure's book, Kind is the New Classy and I was challenged by her message.
Her message was a simple one, but one that has power because kindness is powerful.
I definitely recommend that you read her book!
It got me thinking, so I wrote down some of my thoughts in my journal and I thought that I would share them on here too.
Hopefully, this will give you some food for thought and challenge you.

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Through reading this book, I realized that being simply being only as nice as necessary isn't enough.
I should really be more kind than necessary. I was convicted of this in my life.
I sometimes have the mindset that I only need to be a little bit kind to someone, but to enough to go out of my way to show them kindness.
It sounds awful, I'll admit, but it's the truth. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way sometimes.


One of the cool things about kindness is that one small act of kindness can start a ripple effect.
Your act of kindness to someone will most likely inspire them to act kindly to someone else.
In return, when you are kind, others will be more likely to show kindness back to you.

After reading Candace's words, I was inspired to keep my eyes open to any opportunities to be kind.
I want to go the extra mile in my everyday life and try to infuse the people around me with Christ's love through acts (or words) of kindness that the Lord will help me to do.
For example, I'm going to a youth conference in a few weeks and instead of only seeking what I can get out of it, I want to use it as an opportunity to seek ways in which I can serve and be kind to others.

I want to be the listening ear for anyone who has a burden, I want to be the person someone can laugh with, I want to be a light that spreads the love of Jesus everywhere I go and sometimes that means getting down and doing the dirty work (Jesus washed his disciples feet! You can't get much more dirty than that!) or the work that barely anybody notices. I want to be kind to everyone I meet and those who I already know.
I also believe that turning outside of myself to be kind to others around me will help me not to be so wrapped up in worrying about what others think of me (which is a struggle I have).


Ultimately by being kind to our fellow man (or woman!) we are following the example of Christ which is the most important motive. We will also be glorifying God in all that we do if we do it with love and kindness.
Genuine kindness is becoming rare in today's world, which is a world of anger, hate and rudeness (especially on the Internet).
It is our responsibility as Christians to be a light set on a hill, showing love, compassion and kindness on a broken and dark world that desperately needs it.

 So I challenge you to look around you today and see the ways that you can show kindness to the people around you. I'll start you off with a few ideas.

• Smile, really smile at people
• Write a letter, not or text to a friend to encourage them and let them know you are thinking of them
• Cook a meal for someone
• Take time to pray for someone
• Do some chores for your mum so she doesn't have to do them
• Offer to babysit for a busy mother
• Host people in your home and practice hospitality

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The last thing I want to to say to you is we can't do this in your own strength. We need the strength of another, stronger than us. We need God's love and grace to help us.
We also cannot pour out all these good things to the people surrounding us if we don't fill ourselves up with Him first. This means that each and every day we need to come to Him to be filled.


We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!


keep blooming,
xo Hannah