Enjoy free shipping with $50+ orders!

We’re Called and Equipped for Kindness

October 03, 2018

We’re Called and Equipped for Kindness

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” - Proverbs 12:25

“Hi!” I waved to the old man as we walked in opposite directions on the sidewalk. I was on one of my morning 'walk and worship' trips around the neighborhood before work, and I was determined to put everyone I saw in as good of a mood as me. While I was expecting a sweet smile and a nice greeting from my new elderly sidewalk friend, all I received in return for my morning salutation was a scowl. Of course, my mind flooded with negativity in hyper speed. 

 

“How dare him?” I thought. “All I was trying to do was be kind to him and he gives me that mean of a glare?” 


While my mind trotted down a path of pessimistic destruction, I felt God nudge me to let go of the feeling of rejection and put myself in this man's shoes. It’s like I heard Him say, “what if that was the first time that man had been greeted in weeks, and he just didn’t know how to react?”

Whoa. 

That perspective changes everything. What if our acts of kindness, our smiles, morning greetings, or random compliments are the only signs of love that people might experience or recognize today? Would we increase their effectiveness and occurrences? 

While it may seem like a lot of pressure to be the love of Christ in the world, it’s what we’re called to do as Christians and equipped to carry out as vessels of the Holy Spirit. And not just with people who seem inviting or that we know will return the kindness.

We’re called to show God’s love to all people:
That extremely political Facebook friend - your grouchy neighbor who complains about everything - the grocery store clerk who won’t look you in the eye, much less speak to you - the lady who cut you off in traffic and then acted as if you wronged her in some way. They’re all God’s children, and we’re in charge of loving them accordingly.

We were created in the image of love. Let’s be women who go out of our way to make others feel seen, loved and included as children of God today! 

Challenge: Go out of your way to do something nice for someone today with the perspective that it could be the only act of kindness they'll see in their day.






Also in Wheatful Woman Blog

Watching our words
Watching our words

September 20, 2023

God, please forgive me when I have used hurtful or unnecessary words to gain a sense of control. Help me trust you to guard every word that comes out of my mouth.

View full article →

Compassion Triumphs Pity
Compassion Triumphs Pity

September 13, 2023

We can find biblical hope for this struggle when we consider the story of the Israelites’ exile in the Old Testament. The afflictions of the Israelites’ exile were two-fold. On one hand, they were exiled because of their own sin, and on the other hand, their burdens were increased because of the sin of the nations oppressing them. I am certain that if I were an exiled Israelite, I would have been grumbling and throwing pity parties the majority of the time. How does God respond to them? Throu...

View full article →

no room for comparison
no room for comparison

September 06, 2023

As Christians, the biggest problem with unhealthy comparison is that it misplaces our passion for building the Kingdom of God onto building our own kingdoms of self. Comparison strips us of seeing what God has given us and called us to.

View full article →