Kindness is such a simple word, and an action that most of us think we instinctively display throughout our lives. I'm sure we all remember the basic principles of the "golden rule".
As a child, I can remember my Kindergarten teacher constantly repeating herself in class. I can actually hear her sweet, yet, stern voice. "Children....Children please remember to be polite respect one another, don't be mean."
Our young ears would attentively listen to her detailed instructions and actually obey. We were careful not to push or hit one another, not to say mean things to our class mates, and always tried our best to be all inclusive during play time. We were careful not to leave a child out for fear of being sentenced to that dreadful, green chair in the corner for time out. As a little five year old girl, growing up in Northern California; I was unaware, at the time, that Miss Brown was echoing the ideal rules for a harmonious and fluid society.
The world we live in is not an ideal place. We face conflicts everyday in the grocery store, office, and within our own family unit. How can this change ? Is it even possible to diffuse some conflicts that we face throughout our daily existence? Our Heavenly Father says that we can; through the power of love and kindness.
The scriptures instruct us on how to be obedient, patient, loving, kind, and long suffering.
Long suffering how many of us are long suffering? (Okay I have a confession).
I'm a stay at home mom and I have recently received the responsibility of taking care of my 95 year old grandparents. And I initially thought, "okay I got this... I've been in the corporate world I can handle this, staying at home is going to be a piece of cake." Needless to say, that was not the case. I don't think anything could have prepared me for this tremendous and amazing experience of being a stay at home mom and a caretaker. So at the end of the day I could not even tell you what the word long suffering means. I just don't have that quality in me, especially in the evenings. My patients is completely depleted, and sometimes I'm cranky and short to my family. I just don't want to be bothered!
One day I found myself wanting to just scream and run as far as I could. But instead, I ran away to my prayer closet and asked my Heavenly Father to teach me how to be long suffering, patient, and kind because I just don't know how to do it on my own. And He revealed something to me....He let me know that it's not always about how I felt.
He allowed me to view some of the woman around the world in my spiritual imagination. He took the time and displayed the African woman walking for miles to gather water and food for her children, and the stay at home mother in the country side of east India who had the same task I had for the day. Cooking, cleaning, being the caretaker for her family members, and teaching her children. Only her daily task were not completed in an air conditioned home. Her daily task were completed on a dirt floor hut, in the hot sun, without air condition or the convenience of the local grocery store.
Sometimes we have to put how we feel aside, to be effective in serving others. Being kind or giving a smile and a hug to someone when we don't feel like it. Stepping aside to let someone go first in a long line, even though you may be exhausted from a hard day of work. Answering the 100th question that your child has repeatedly asked you throughout the day, when you don't feel like it. This is the law of our Heavenly Father; this is what He expects of us. When you give kindness, it is a guarantee that the kindness will return to you in tenfold.
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Blessings,
Camille Kleidysz
As a child, I can remember my Kindergarten teacher constantly repeating herself in class. I can actually hear her sweet, yet, stern voice. "Children....Children please remember to be polite respect one another, don't be mean."
Our young ears would attentively listen to her detailed instructions and actually obey. We were careful not to push or hit one another, not to say mean things to our class mates, and always tried our best to be all inclusive during play time. We were careful not to leave a child out for fear of being sentenced to that dreadful, green chair in the corner for time out. As a little five year old girl, growing up in Northern California; I was unaware, at the time, that Miss Brown was echoing the ideal rules for a harmonious and fluid society.
The world we live in is not an ideal place. We face conflicts everyday in the grocery store, office, and within our own family unit. How can this change ? Is it even possible to diffuse some conflicts that we face throughout our daily existence? Our Heavenly Father says that we can; through the power of love and kindness.
The scriptures instruct us on how to be obedient, patient, loving, kind, and long suffering.
Long suffering how many of us are long suffering? (Okay I have a confession).
I'm a stay at home mom and I have recently received the responsibility of taking care of my 95 year old grandparents. And I initially thought, "okay I got this... I've been in the corporate world I can handle this, staying at home is going to be a piece of cake." Needless to say, that was not the case. I don't think anything could have prepared me for this tremendous and amazing experience of being a stay at home mom and a caretaker. So at the end of the day I could not even tell you what the word long suffering means. I just don't have that quality in me, especially in the evenings. My patients is completely depleted, and sometimes I'm cranky and short to my family. I just don't want to be bothered!
One day I found myself wanting to just scream and run as far as I could. But instead, I ran away to my prayer closet and asked my Heavenly Father to teach me how to be long suffering, patient, and kind because I just don't know how to do it on my own. And He revealed something to me....He let me know that it's not always about how I felt.
He allowed me to view some of the woman around the world in my spiritual imagination. He took the time and displayed the African woman walking for miles to gather water and food for her children, and the stay at home mother in the country side of east India who had the same task I had for the day. Cooking, cleaning, being the caretaker for her family members, and teaching her children. Only her daily task were not completed in an air conditioned home. Her daily task were completed on a dirt floor hut, in the hot sun, without air condition or the convenience of the local grocery store.
Sometimes we have to put how we feel aside, to be effective in serving others. Being kind or giving a smile and a hug to someone when we don't feel like it. Stepping aside to let someone go first in a long line, even though you may be exhausted from a hard day of work. Answering the 100th question that your child has repeatedly asked you throughout the day, when you don't feel like it. This is the law of our Heavenly Father; this is what He expects of us. When you give kindness, it is a guarantee that the kindness will return to you in tenfold.
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Blessings,
Camille Kleidysz
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