Love is Kind - (Day Nine)

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

While exercising patience we are in essence showing kindness.  In rendering this part of love, we freely accept one another and look for their good.  Regardless of who they are or what they have said or done to us, we search for ways to heal.

Unfortunately, this act is not perpetuated in our country much anymore.  Daily we see the effects of people who have become far too sensitive.  Just look at your Facebook wall…everyone chimes in on postings and people are too eager to critique somebody’s point of view.  If someone disagrees watch out!  Here come more offensive postings from those who appear to be too uptight about another’s opinion.

I remember telling my women’s Bible study group that we need to just “shake it off” and let things go…let them roll off our back, sort of speak.  Nowadays, people have to make a big stink about the smallest of comments and stir the pot.  Just watch a few minutes of television as we near the presidential election.  We have become a litigious society – far from the days I remember growing up as a kid when my mother would spend time conversing with our neighbor over the backyard fence.  No, sadly, people today have to air the dirty laundry in public and fight the smallest of offenses out in court.     

According to Spiros Zodhiates’ work, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, kindness in the Greek is Chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace) and means benignity or usefulness.  It is descriptive of ones disposition.  The beauty that permeates the entire character, softening all that would be callous and harsh.  Although, not gushy, when necessary it can be tough.  In this context, it may say “no” to a spoiled child, tell an addict to get treatment, or report a crime committed by a relative.

LOVE is kind…delivers what heals and denies what can be harmful.

  

Forever His,

Anita