It’s that time again, where school supply lists reign supreme. But as you fill your child’s backpack with the essentials for a successful year, be sure to include kindness!

 

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another…”

 

Aristotle said; “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” I wholeheartedly agree. While education is an important goal, teaching and training our hearts to be like God’s builds a platform from which education can find its highest use. And God’s heart is intentionally and actively kind.

 

Every single day children and we adults with them are gifted with multiple opportunities to be kind or unkind. Choose kindness.

 

Kindness opens the door to new relationships. People are drawn to kindness and the truly kind are rarely lonely.

 

Kindness conveys value to those shown it. Kindness demonstrates the worth placed on an individual.

 

Kindness brings encouragement to those who are discouraged. Even a small act of kindness is a powerful agent of hope!

 

Kindness is always “other focused”. Kindness momentarily relieves us of ourselves and who doesn’t need more of that?

 

Kindness is always demonstrated. One cannot be passively kind; it always takes action.

 

Kindness is a skill. We get better at kindness when we intentionally do it; practice makes perfect.

 

Kindness when done sits on the surface of another’s life and eventually melts the hardest of hearts.

 

Kindness is contagious. Just try it and see!

 

Kindness is an attribute that we share with God…

 

God is love.  (I John 4:16)

 

Love is kind.  (I Corinthians 13:4)

 

We are God’s.  (Romans 8:16)

 

The world is watching, God is watching…Let us be kind.  (Ephesians 4:32)