Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful. Kind words also produce their image on men’s souls; and a beautiful image it is. They smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer.
With the help of grace, the habit of saying kind words is very quickly formed, and when once formed, it is not speedily lost. Sharpness, bitterness, sarcasm, acute observation, divination of motives, – all these things disappear when a man is earnestly conforming himself to the image of Christ Jesus. The very attempt to be like our dearest Lord is already a well-spring of sweetness within us, flowing with an easy grace over all who come within our reach.
When those on his right hand asked in surprise, “When? Where?,” he answered, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 34–40). With that we face the shocking reality. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He asks for help in the form of a beggar, a down-and-out, a man in ragged clothes, someone who is sick, even a criminal in need of our love. He meets you in every person you encounter in need. So long as there are people around, Christ walks the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls to you, demands of you, makes claims upon you.
Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil at check. But that is not what I have found. I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.
There is a fine line between being kind to a stranger and patronizing the same person .. and you both know it as soon as the words are out of your mouth. That line has a name, “Respect”.
The greatest feats of love are performed by those who have had much practise in performing daily acts of kindness.
If a person feels the need to tell you the same story countless times, there is a reason. It is either important to their heart or they feel it is important for you to know. Be kind, be attentive, be patient and perhaps you will be the one God uses to help them move past where they are stuck.
We see the importance of honoring the word order in Romans 2:4 (NKJV), where Paul explains that it is “the goodness of God [that] leads you to repentance.” Repentance is elicited by goodness. It is not God’s wrath or anger, but His promise of grace to grant forgiveness that announces to the world, “Come! No sin can ever trump My grace!” Sinners flocked to Jesus, attracted by the grace He openly projected. His whole demeanor was engraved with “You are welcome,” written in letters of grace. Once sinners came to Him, He taught them the divine truth—exacting and costly, but always palatable because of the context of grace in which it was presented.
Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.
Today, treat everyone you meet as if they’re going to be dead by midnight. Extend all the kindness and understanding you can, and do it with no thought of any reward.