Kindness

Just yesterday I got to attend the Beth Moore Living Proof Live Simulcast at our church. I was instantly convicted as she began her talk about kindness. Or, in my case, the lack thereof. I was blown away that this was her topic as it has been on my heart for a couple of weeks.

When it comes to my husband and daughter in particular, I can be so unkind. I'm not sure why this is. I know with A, I just get frustrated (many times with her disobedience) and my tone with her is anything but kind. And I can't tell you the number of times when my husband has said to me (not so much in jest) how I'm so kind with my friends but not with him. Sadly, he's right.

The verse that she started with was Proverbs 31:26. It says in the NKJV, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness." The law of kindness. The word law there comes from the word 'torah', meaning that it's the whole instruction of God. In other words, it's a big deal...this kindess thing. One of the reasons she said we should study kindness is that we live in a mean world and it's only getting worse. How true. And, yet, I'm adding to its meanness. It makes me sick to think that I'm less than kind with those in my own household. I don't want to be a two-faced gal...one way at home and another way when I'm out and about...putting on some sort of show so people will think I have it all together. I seriously don't. I wish I did, but it just ain't so.

Anyway, as I said, I was instantly convicted. I so want to be kind. It is a fruit of the Spirit. So, I guess that if I'm walking by the Spirit, I should be kind, right? And so, if I'm not being kind, that should say something, right? Something to the tune of I'm not walking with God and spending time with Him like I should be. Isn't there some sort of saying that the people you hang out with the most are the people you become like the most? Well, I'm obviously not hanging out with God the most or my attitude and actions would be different.

Therefore, I'm deciding today to spend more time with God this fall. I so want it to be a habit in my life. I want to be kind. I want to teach kindness to my daughter and my son so that one day they can "rise up and call her blessed". And I definitely want to show kindness to my husband so that one day he can say "many daughters have done well, but you excel them all".

PS - I wrote this post earlier this afternoon. It is now 11pm and I've already failed at being kind tonight! UGH!!