I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but we live in a broken world. Cities are being infiltrated by evil. People are dying. There are thousands of people living on the streets. Parents aren’t sure where their next meal will come from. We have real problems.
And in the midst of all the destruction and devastation, we’re heaping all kinds of unnecessary unkindness on each other. We are going out of our way to be rude.
We’re throwing fits about CUPS, getting into senseless political arguments on social media, and taking every opportunity to slam those we disagree with. It’s crazy – and it has to stop.
I want to do something about it. I want to be intentional with my words. I want to spread KINDNESS all over the internet, throughout my home, and reaching into my community. Our kindness won’t change the whole world. BUT, we CAN change someone’s world. We can make someone’s day better. We can light up the darkness in our community. We can fill our home with love. We can change someone’s day. And all those small things -they matter.
Our words MATTER.
Proverbs 18:21 – Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
Unkindness affects people. It ruins their day….their week….sometimes affecting their self-identity for life. We remember the leveling glance from the woman at the store. We replay the words from the hurtful email we received. We tear up when we recall the unkindness of someone we trusted.
Unkindness makes us forget what is true about us. It stirs up doubt, fear, and masks our hope.
But kindness? Kindness changes everything. I’m starting a kindness campaign….and I’m hoping you’ll join me.
I want to make someone’s day BETTER. The world needs more kindness right now. In a day and age where people are INTENTIONALLY being rude, let’s flip the script and live a life of unabashed kindness.
Rude behavior is selfish. When someone lashes out at you, it’s usually about them. It’s their issue. Kindness however is about OTHERS. It forces us to think about someone else -leaving no room for unkind things. We can’t fill our life up with bitterness, rage, and unforgiveness when we are living a life fueled by love and service.
From now until Christmas, I want to go out of my way to be kind. Every. Day. I want to live a life fueled by love. Let my motivation be others-oriented. May EVERY word I say uplift. I am pledging to cease the tearing down of others. I am pledging to seek out ways to encourage.
Random acts of kindness have changed me – turned hard days, rough times, and tough situations around. They’ve made happy times brighter.
8 years ago, strangers handed our 2 year old daughter a plush Santa Kermit on our way out of the grocery store. They walked over, said, “We loved watching your daughter in the checkout line, and wanter her to have this. Merry Christmas.” 8 years later, I still cry when we pull that Kermit out of the Christmas boxes.
It’s small things. It’s helping someone load their groceries when it’s raining. It’s complimenting someone on their parenting or letting someone know you like the way their hair is styled. It’s grabbing the check for a friend. It’s sending a note on Facebook. It’s leaving gifts for a family who is struggling. It’s intentional, unselfish, acts of love.
- Give a compliment to a stranger
- Tell a parent at a store that they are doing a great job.
- Compliment a parent on their child’s good behavior.
- Send an encouraging note to someone.
- Leave a generous tip.
- Pay for the coffee/meal/etc of the person behind you.
- Leave a plate of cookies/casserole/etc. on your friend’s porch. (Make sure they are home!)
- SMILE at people
- Do one of your spouse’s chores
- Rake your neighbor’s leaves
Go out of your way to be kind. Be intentional with your words and deeds. Do NOT engage in hateful or hurtful speech. Those arguments on social media? Stay out of them. Spread happiness on the internet. Spread smiles at the store. Let your words be full of grace.
Will you join me on this quest for kindness? Will you be a part of the kindness campaign? Let’s change someone’s world…or at least their afternoon. =)
