Try a little kindness | The Salvation Army

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Try a little kindness

Posted November 12, 2016

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I’ve developed a fun new hobby, which I describe to my family as ‘setting people free from roundabouts’.

The way it works (in case you want to play, too), is that when you come up to a large and busy roundabout, with lots of people waiting at its various points, rather than rushing through, you slow ever so slightly so some of those at other points are free to get on and then off. The words ‘ever so slightly’ are important. As you focus on being kind and setting a few people free, you want to be careful not to antagonise those in the queue behind you.

Kindness is so crucial in this world—it can lift a heavy heart, rebuild broken relationships and give courage to persevere. Mark Twain said, ‘Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.’

Kind words are especially powerful. As Proverbs 12:25 says, ‘Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.’

That’s not to say it’s always easy to be kind, but the good news is that kindness is one of the many qualities God grows in our lives.

If your predisposition is toward a harshness in your attitudes and responses (anything from general grumpiness to road rage), and you’re tired of being this way, draw on God’s help. Ask God to transform your heart and to allow you to more easily see the great value of others.

Christina Tyson
Editor

Bible Verse

James 1:5 Contemporary English Version
If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.
Hēmi 1:5
Ki te hapa tētahi o koutou i te mātauranga, me īnoi ia ki te Atua, e hōmai nui nei ki te katoa, kāhore hoki āna tāwai mai; ā ka hōmai ki a ia.