Tag: compassion and kindness

Experience the Power of Social Justice: Living with Truth

Beth - blogger, coach, consultantLeave a comment

Today’s lectionary reading comes from Amos 8: 1-12. It focuses on the karma of those who oppress the poor and the failure to uphold social justice. In a similar fashion, Psalm 15 focuses on the power of social justice and the need for living in truth. 

I’m often uncomfortable with many books of the prophets. Especially those like Amos 8 that start with  words like we find in Amos 8:2.

“The end has come upon my people Israel; I will spare them no longer

It sounds so harsh.

Until you read further and understand the context.

In fact, in many places within the Bible, context is everything. There are actions and there are consequences.

Actions and consequences

Like Newton’s Third Law in physics: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So, what caused this outrage and response?

8:4  Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,

8:5  saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah smaller and the shekel heavier and practice deceit with false balances,

8:6  buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and selling the sweepings of the wheat.”

So, how did the people of Israel bring about their own destruction?

  1. trampling the needy and bringing the poor to ruin
  2. practicing deceit with false balances
  3. human trafficking and exploiting the poor
  4. selling the sweepings of the wheat (selling substandard or defective goods).

This wasn’t a reflection of how the people of Israel treated other nations, but rather how rotten they were within themselves. It was a reflection of how far their society had fallen, oppressing their neighbours and taking advantage of each other. 

We also find in Psalm 15 another list of practices which lead to social injustice:

  • slandering
  • doing evil to their friends
  • heaping shame upon your neighbours
  • loan sharks
  • taking bribes against the innocent (false imprisonment, bribery and corruption)

So, while in the New Testament there is a lot about personal righteousness, in the Old Testament we find a lot more about the power of social justice and the importance of ensuring a nation of righteousness.

It’s particularly interesting when we see the foundations that were laid down for the nation of Israel.

“However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you.”

Deuteronomy 15:4

Nonetheless, since the people failed to live in the power of social justice that were laid down, the divide grew between the ‘have’s and the ‘have not’s. 

Modern examples of these injustices

It’s not always easy to relate to these verses from the Old Testament, since often what they speak of are practices that we are not familiar with.

So, let me try to provide some modern examples of these injustices:

Trampling the needy and bringing the poor to ruin

Perhaps in our modern age, this is as simple as being dismissed, ignored and dehumanised. Becoming a statistic, rather than being seen as a person.

How often do we deny someone opportunities to grow, simply because their resume or clothes don’t look attractive enough. They are already struggling, but we don’t even provide them with opportunities to grow and change their circumstances, preferring instead to choose someone that already has advantages.

We all know that it takes money to make money. If you have enough money, you can invest in stocks, real estate and other assets that simply provide an income without you working.

The poor, on the other hand, are limited to using their time, skills and labour to make money.

Because of this, the rich get richer and have more opportunities to pursue education, rather than needing to work to take care of their needs.

Even if we consider the impact of something like the 2008 crash, we can see how the banks were bailed out, while the middle and lower class lost their jobs and then their homes when they were unable to keep up the payments for the mortgages. Because of this, many private institutions were able to sweep through and buy up those homes at low cost, which were then rented back to the very classes that had previously owned them.

But who was responsible for the loan crisis and crash? The very banks and investment advisers that later profited from the bailouts and being able to buy up cheap.

This is only one example of how you bring the poor to ruin.

It’s buying up the farmland of farmers, after you’ve squeezed them into not being able to sell their produce at the market.

All of these commonly accepted business practices that we overlook are not overlooked by the heavens. We are asked to love our neighbour as ourselves, and this is reflected even in the way we create laws and manage our economy. 

Practicing deceit with false balances

With electronic scales and everything modernised, it’s hard to imagine the experiences of the past. But as it says in Amos, there were many waiting for the days of the full moon or the Sabbath, so that they could prey on the poor.

They would “make the ephah smaller and the shekel heavier“.

  • The wheat and grain was sold by the ephah (about a bushel or 60 pounds). By making the ephah smaller, the buyer would receive less wheat.
  • The shekel, on the other hand, was the weight used to measure silver and gold. So, by making it heavier, you had to use more gold or silver to pay for your purchases. 

In other words, they were shortchanging the buyer and charging an inflated price.

Even in the online world, where prices are shown to us, there are many ways to charge inflated prices. For example, the price might say “does not include delivery and handling”, and they add an extra $5.00 charge for delivery. It’s even more likely that prices are adjusted on real-time factors such as demand, the time of day, or even location of the buyer. 

Did you press “accept cookies”? Those very cookies might track what you buy, how much you spend and even the frequency of what you look at.

These modern conveniences can influence the prices of what the algorithm believes you can afford and adjust it accordinly. You might never know that the price you are quoted is different from the price others are paying. 

Human trafficking and exploiting in the poor

It was common in the times of the Old Testament to own slaves. It was even common to sell yourself as a slave, to ensure that your family’s debts were paid and that you would have a roof over your head and food to eat.

Nonetheless, in Exodus through Numbers, we see many rules established about these practices, aimed to ensure social justice. One of the principal ones being the “Year of Jubilee“. Every seven years, the slaves that had been purchased had to be released and returned to freedom.

Obviously, the price you would pay for someone in the first year would be much higher than you might be wiling to pay in the last year or the month before the Year of Jubilee.

However, none of this exempted them from paying a fair price. They were not supposed to buy someone just for the cost of a pair of sandals. Even today there are examples of debt bondage in countries like India, Pakistan and Nepal, where people are forced to work just to continue paying off the interest on loans, and don’t even dare to take sick days as the loan amount will increase.

Around the world, there are at least 40 million people in slavery, in spite of slavery having been abolished.

Nonetheless, the exploiting of the poor to keep them working for low wages, whether it be illegal immigrants that are mistreated or other forms of social injustice in wages is rampant all around the world. 

Selling the sweepings of wheat

This is an interesting one that probably needs a little more explanation.  Basically, what would happen as that sellers would mix the chaff of the wheat with the actual wheat being sold, and so they would sell less actual wheat to the consumer.

It’s simply a form of defective goods, as the buyer would not get what they were paying for. 

So, what are some modern examples we might consider?

  • Refurbished or poorly manufactured electronics. often sold with misleading claims about their performance or lifespan.
  • Counterfeit or fake goods
  • Deceptive advertising, packaging or labelling
  • Overcharging our hours or time when selling professional services

We are called to be honest and trustworthy even when we are not being watched and supervised. It’s all about personal integrity in business and dealing with others. 

The outcome of a nation with social injustice

Amos provides a bleak picture of what will befall a nation that has corroded from within.

I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.

Amos 8:10

Worse yet, the country is promised that they will no longer hear the Word of the Lord. Because they have abandoned God, they will no longer be able to hear that still, small voice.

The blessings of social justice

Psalms 15 reminds us that a person, community and nation that focuses on social justice will be blessed.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15:5

What are “these things”? There are both do’s and don’ts in this list.

What to do?

  • Walk blamelessly and do what is right
  • Speak the truth from their hearts
  • In whose eyes the wicked are despised
  • Honour those who fear the Lord
  • Stand by their oath even to their hurt

What not to do?

  • Do not slander with their tongue
  • Do no evil to their friends
  • Do not heap shame upon their neighbours
  • Do not lend money at interest
  • Do not take a bribe against the innocent

A person that cannot be moved is one that stands strong, no matter what they are facing or how strong the winds and storm. They might be battered, but they will not be knocked over. 

The blessing that awaits is unwavering stability, steadfastness, and an unyielding position in the face of adversity or challenges.

The person and nation that stands strong for social justice refuses to be swayed, shaken, or forced. Instead they have determination, resilience, and a deep-rooted sense of security in their faith. 

This is the promise of the power of social justice and living in truth.

5 Powerful Lessons about Love from the Prodigal Son

Beth - blogger, coach, consultantLeave a comment

The lectionary reading for this week is from Luke 15: the story of the prodigal son. And today, I want to highlight five powerful lessons about love that we can learn from Jesus’ teachings. 

If you love, sometimes you have to let go

As parents and friends, we’ve all had people that we want to protect in our lives. But sometimes, as the father in the parable, we realise that we have to let our loved ones go out and learn lessons for themselves. 

So, we see, at the beginning of the parable, that the father simply allows his youngest son to leave.

There was a man who had two sons. 

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

I can’t imagine this father’s pain when his son treated him as dead, asking for his share of the inheritance ahead of time. But, rather than teaching him a lesson, he loves him enough to let him go and experience the world on his own.

Unlike now, where we have internet, email, WhatsApp and all types of communication and travel that can reduce the distance between us, I’m sure that the father didn’t hear from his son once he left and moved away.

He was basically abandoning his family and all their teachings.

And still, the father let him go.  All his hard work and affection, just squandered by youth’s mad pursuit of the present moment. 

True love is not about control and it’s not always about protection. Sometimes, it’s allowing someone to grow up and learn on their own.  As parents and friends, we have to learn to love fully, even letting go.

Even with God’s love, we see freedom of choice. We choose whether or not to practice the Divine’s presence in our life each day. What relationship do you want to have with Spirit?

prodigal son, love, unconditional love, forgiveness, freedom of choice, relationships

Choose your friends wisely

The second life lesson in love that we learn from the Prodigal Son is to choose your friends wisely. 

We’ve all had our share of fair weather friends. The Prodigal Son shows us a prime example of this.

When he’s rich and there’s money for parties and entertainment, he’s surrounded by people that want to be his friends. He’s living the high life.

But after he squandered all his money and the famine hits, he gets a rude wake up call.

Where are those friends now?

He’s all alone in a foreign land, with no one to help or guide him.

He sinks as low as to become a servant for another, having to feed slop to pigs on someone’s farm. He’s so low that even the pigs eat better than he does. 

But, he has fallen to this low, because of the friends that he chose in this new land and how they influenced his choices. 

Jim Rohn said that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. 

Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. 

We all need connection and belonging in our lives. This is one of the reason that we find so many gangs flourishing in low income ghettos. They give youth a sense of belonging and safety. No matter how dangerous it might be, they meet their needs to some extent. 

But this connection and belonging also influences our habits and choices.  Do the people that we choose to build relationships with lead us to better ourselves and strive to grow? Emotionally, spiritually, financially and even physically.

If your friends are all into health and fitness, it’s likely that they are inviting you to go for walks, or go to the gym, hiking, cycling or different types of classes. Where they choose to go to eat and what they drink will be influenced by this lifestyle choice. 

And as you spend time with them, you will find it easy to choose healthy activities and focusing on your physical wellbeing. 

Of course, the prodigal son’s friends also influenced his choices – to spend money frivously with no thoughts to the future.  And it destroyed him. 

Throughout the Bible, we find all manner of advice about how to choose our friends and those we regularly spend time with. What will you do with this advice?

prodigal son, love, unconditional love, forgiveness, freedom of choice, relationships

Knowing when to admit “I was wrong”

Our third lesson in love from the Prodigal Son, comes when he wakes up to his situation and reality, and chooses to admit that he was wrong. 

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

All of us make mistakes. But what really matters in relationships is how we deal with those mistakes and how we choose to relate to others. 

Can we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness from those who love us? Are we willing to rebuild a relationship based on forgiveness? 

Today’s lesson from the Prodigal Son is not just about a father’s love. It’s also about humility and admitting our mistakes.

The Prodigal Son no longer takes his father’s love and care for granted. Instead, he resolves to return with humility and ask for forgiveness. 

So, today, let’s consider those relationships where we are taking others – especially their love and care for us – for granted. Do we need to ask for forgiveness in humility and rebuild our relationships? 

Unconditional love and rejoicing

Perhaps the best lesson we all know from the Prodigal Son is the father’s response upon the return of his wayward son. 

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

In previous parables, Jesus talked about the Shepherd who leaves the 99 to go out to search for that one lost sheep. And here, we see the father rejoicing over the return of that one wayward son. 

We first see that when the father sees him, he is filled with compassion. He recognises that the broken young man returning home is his son. And while the son recognises that he is in the wrong and no longer worthy of being called his son, the father responds with returning to him his status of being a son. 

He clothes him and put shoes back on his feet. He begins a feast to welcome him home. 

I find it fascinating that this father didn’t say “I told you so¨. 

There’s no lecture and no questioning. He accepts the apology fully and embraces his son back into the family. 

There’s probably wisdom in this father’s heart and eyes: he can see that life has already provided all the lessons and there’s no need to rub salt into his wounds. What the son needs now is love and acceptance. 

But how many of us can show this level of wisdom in our love and relationships? Do we know when to lecture and teach versus when to simply show love.  It’s not about coddling and pampering. But rather, it’s about know when to speak and what to speak.

So, as we learn from the Prodigal Son, there’s a time in relationships to accept someone’s humble apology and embrace them without teaching them anything further.

Do we have the wisdom to know the difference?

prodigal son, love, unconditional love, forgiveness, freedom of choice, relationships

Love isn’t just about following the rules

Our final lesson in love comes from the reaction of the older son to his brother’s return and his conversation with his father:

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

I can almost hear resentment in the older brother’s voice towards his father. It almost seems that there are unspoken feelings in his heart towards his father – the struggle of always being “the responsible one”. 

But relationships and love aren’t just about following the rules and never disobeying. It’s not just about external compliance, but also the state of our heart. 

Take a moment and consider whether you are holding any resentment in your heart towards others because you feel that the relationship is unfair. You’re doing everything right, but are you complaining that you don’t receive “enough love” in return? 

Is this really love that you are feeling? Or is it just responsibility? Love isn’t a transaction. 

I know, for myself, the biggest resentments I have ever felt in my life are not actually towards others, but towards God. The times I have recriminated with “But this isn’t fair!” have typically been when I’m complaining about life to the Divine. 

Today’s a great day to consider what bitterness or resentment you might be holding in your heart in your relationships. Where do you feel that you’ve been doing it all right and you’re not receiving back the love and attention that you deserve? And what will you do with these feelings now that you’ve identified them? 

What other lessons have you taken away from this parable of the Prodigal Son? 

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, speak life, every cell in your body

Life and death are in the power of the tongue

Beth - blogger, coach, consultant1 Comment

I’ve been somewhat unsettled in recent weeks hearing masses around the world chanting “I can’t breathe”. I believe in the power of the tongue in creating wellness and illness in our bodies.

I pin my hopes on George receiving justice: what was done to him was an abomination. I firmly believe that the systems that stand in place to perpetuate injustice and prejudice should be exposed and torn away—all the wrongs of those who are silenced and told that their opinions don’t matter.

I wasn’t going to write this post. This has been sitting in my drafts for two weeks. Not my place to comment. I didn’t want to be one to criticise.

But does holding back my voice not make me part of the problem, rather than contributing to a solution? So, let me say this clearly:

I am horrified by the continued use of the slogan”I can’t breathe“.

On the one hand, it’s great for the media. On the other hand, do those chanting it consider the double-edged sword it can be for their health?

Words spoken by masses with strong emotions: powerful stuff.

Calling into existence that which is spoken.

The question is: what does it create?

What spells are we casting?

We laugh at “abracadabra” – but many believe that the word actually has meaning and power.

Scholars who support the Hebrew etymology say that abracadabra is a corruption of the Hebrew, ebrah k’dabri, meaning “I will create as I speak,” ie that the act of speech will magically create new realities. … the words and letters of the Hebrew alphabet have the power to create.

Abracadabra, https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/abracadabra-1.466709

life and death, Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts & words, i can't breathe, #icantbreathe, united we stand, we can do it

Similarly, you may scoff at those that use affirmations and recite promises to themselves or God, claiming a blessing or healing.

But what if words and thoughts and emotions do have power?

This is particularly true of words spoken full of emotion.

What if I can’t breathe has power?

The first reference I can find to this slogan arises in late 2014, shortly after the asphyxiation of Eric Gardner by a police officer. His last words “I can’t breathe”, were raised like a mantra in the protests that followed in New York City.

“There was this quote staring me in the face, and that’s something that should be the quote of the year,” Shapiro recalled.
So the Yale Law Library’s associate director and lecturer revised his 2014 list, placing “I can’t breathe” in the top slot. His widely cited annual list, which is intended to capture the political and cultural mood of the country each year, serves as a supplement to “The Yale Book of Quotations,” originally published in 2006.

‘I can’t breathe.’ Eric Garner’s last words are 2014’s most notable quote, according to a Yale librarian

Unfortunately, when I took a quick look at the 2014-15 flu deaths for that same period, there was a small spike – from the usual 36,000 a year up to 51,000. Mere coincidence? Quite likely. There are probably a million factors that played a part in the increase. Again in 2017, when the book “I can’t breathe” by Matt Kaibbi comes out, and Queen Ifrica publishes her song “I can’t breathe”: we get another spike up to 61,000 flu deaths. Probably irrelevant.

However, at this moment in history, following on the heels of mass sickness caused by a little-studied virus, we have angry crowds chanting “I can’t breathe”. We have media pushing fear and uncertainty. We have politicians using fear for personal safety and security for their platforms and personal gain.

So, if our words do have power and every cell of our body is eavesdropping on our thoughts, emotions and words – recreating what we declare into existence – how important then are the words that we choose to chant in protest?

Justice for George becomes much more powerful than I can’t breathe if we believe that we have a hand in creating an outcome!

every cell in your body is eavesdropping on what you think, say, do and feel

Every cell in your body is eavesdropping.

In the same way that our mind is aware of everything that goes on in our body, our body and cells are listening and experiencing our thoughts, emotions and words. Unfortunately, our body takes those thoughts, emotions and words literally.

Our cells don’t differentiate when we are protesting from when we are having a phone call or merely meditating alone. Your body experiences your thoughts, emotions and words as they are. You can’t tell your body “I was just joking”.

Like a child that doesn’t understand sarcasm, our body responds to what was said and doesn’t take a joke. It takes everything we feel, say and think quite seriously.

In many different teachings, we find the effects of emotions on our organs:

  • anger: affects the liver
  • fear: affects the kidneys
  • grief: weakens the lungs
  • worry: affects the stomach
  • stress: wreaks havoc on your heart and mind

Examine, for a moment, how your words spoken with emotion are affecting different parts of your body.

Consider your inner child and the children around you:

We all have the voice of an inner critic stuck in our heads – and quite often it’s the voice of a parent, teacher or someone we respected or feared as a child. The voice that our child hears now is the voice that will become their inner critic in the future.

Do we want our children to have an inner voice that says “I can’t breathe”?

consider the impact of words on children

What are our children hearing and experiencing in the chants and protests? How are we explaining the situation to them? What conversations do we have that allow understanding, compassion and wisdom to guide the experience?

Consider a child: how do you build them up after you’ve stripped them down with words said in anger? Think for a moment about any relationship where words have been spoken in anger: if you don’t move past the hatred into love, understanding and acceptance, what footing is your relationship on?

The protests in Panama are not about Black Lives Matter: they are about the lock-down and people going hungry. I have it so much easier in what I have to explain! But I still have to explain to my daughter the images, emotions and even violence that she is witnessing if she catches the news.

At the same time, I explain how incredible our bodies and immune systems are! I talk about how we eat, and even how our emotions and thoughts can help us stay healthy and strong. I check myself any time I notice that I am feeling fearful or anxious: careful not to stuff it down but to release it. I don’t need my daughter to latch onto my fear or anxiety!

In the same way, I have to relate and quieten that inner child of my own: that part of me that feels insecure in any way.

Philippians 4:8, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.

The power of your thoughts

Your thoughts influence your words and your actions. Long before you choose to do something, you have probably considered it multiple times.

Think, for a moment, about words that you spoke to someone in anger. How many times had you thought that before you actually said it? Then, in a moment of rage and slightly out of control (or perhaps in control but no caring about the consequences) you actually said what you’ve been thinking for a while. You voiced how you truly felt. Maybe it wasn’t the whole picture. But it started with thoughts that you have mulled over.

Consider the effect of thinking “I can’t breathe”, with all the nuances that it carries. Perhaps one of those nuances is that the system is unjust and doesn’t allow you to speak your mind.

If you regularly think “the system is unjust”, are you motivated to change it? Or do you get caught in a feeling of hopelessness? Notice the difference between thinking “I can participate in changing this unjust system” versus thinking “the system is unjust”.

Have you noticed how all your thoughts influence your emotions and your words? If your thoughts control your actions, then they have a role to play in creating your future! The action you take has a direct impact on your results.

The power of our emotions when mixed with words.

Our words are so much more powerful when they are spoken with emotion. It doesn’t matter if you are creating and destroying.

Anger at injustice can provide us with the strength and courage to embark on a journey that we might otherwise never take. Unfortunately, anger can also eat us up on the inside if we bottle it up, rather than channelling and releasing it.

Before becoming a bitter person: this was probably an angry person. Over time, the fire of the anger dies down, but the embers continue to burn within. The dissatisfaction and discontent are still there, unresolved. After the explosion of rage burnt out, bitter ashes and disillusion are left.

When we start a journey to transform our community, we may embark on it out of anger and frustration at the current situation. It is terrific to shout out to the world:

This is wrong! Wrongs must be righted!

"Your anger is the part of you that knows your mistreatment and abuse are unacceptable. Your anger knows you deserve to be treated well, and with kindness. Your anger is a part of you that LOVES you."
“Your anger is the part of you that knows your mistreatment and abuse are unacceptable. Your anger knows you deserve to be treated well, and with kindness. Your anger is a part of you that LOVES you.” https://twitter.com/apocalynds/status/1269711325749563399

But at some moment, love and compassion for our community need to replace that anger against the aggressors as the driving force of change. When we fail to recognise that our passion is driven by love and stay only in the rage, we miss an opportunity to grown in greater love and compassion.

Revolutions begin in angry protest and perhaps even rioting but have to end in love and compassion to build!

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Make sure your thoughts, emotions & words serve your goals.

I love that injustice has awoken people to stand up and make a difference in their worlds. But if I could ask just one thing, it would be this:

Choose your words carefully, especially those spoken with emotion.

I want to hear the masses chanting:

Justice for George!
We can do it!
United we stand.
Black lives matter!
Fighting for justice!
We stand for justice.
We demand justice!
Respect me.
My voice matters!

I’m sure you could make a better list of powerful statements that could create change, without cursing your body or those supporting you.

And when we are done tearing down what no longer serves us, let’s build communities of compassion, love and kindness. Communities that are safe for our children, and that allow us to learn what it means to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Your words can either speak life, or your words can speak death. Our tongues can build others up, or they can tear them down

Life & death are in the power of the tongue.

Prov. 18: 21

pay attention, words, sight, heart, health, guard your heart, bring healing, tongue of the wise, as a man thinks, so is he, a cheerful heart, good medicine,

If I look to Proverbs for Wisdom, these are but a few of the reminders about the power of our thoughts, emotions and words:

Proverbs 12:18
The tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 23:7
As a man thinks, so is he.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.

Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

love is kind, celebrating World Kindness Day, practising kindness, being kind, good deeds, compassion, being compassionate, thinking of others, do unto others, be kind to yourself, practice kindness, show kindness, spread kindness, how to practice kindness and compassion, love is kind meaning, compassion and kindness, compassionate and kind, loving and kind, habits of kind people, benefits of kindness, importance of kindness, ways to make kindness a habit, the power of kindness

Love is kind: celebrating World Kindness Day

Beth - blogger, coach, consultant4 Comments

Yesterday, November 13, was World Kindness Day. And after 9.00 p.m., when I hadn’t yet finished writing this blog post, I decided that the greatest act of kindness and self-care for myself was to go to bed!

Today, like most days, I’m up at 4.00 a.m. My body has decided that this new schedule works better!

I’m adapting to not staying up till 11.00 p.m., burning the candle at both ends – learning that kindness starts not with others, but showing compassion to myself. Especially since me tired and cranky, lacking in sleep, is not putting my best foot forward to be kind to others!

Kindness is a habit that starts with me being fully rested – at least to the extent that it is available to me!

I am loving the early mornings.

The stillness and quiet.

Being awake before the birds even start their morning songs! Hearing that first chirp of bird song, and then others waking and joining in.

Being still and knowing that I AM is within me, all around me, and having the opportunity to ask how I can best express love in the world today.

Why does kindness matter?

Find me a Christian who is not kind – and I will challenge them to their face that they are not a true Christian. At the very least, they are failing to be renewed by the transforming of their mind!

Anyone who does not love does not know I AM, because I AM is love.

1 John 4:8

End of story.

And from 1 Corinthians 13, we know that Love is Kind.

I accept that there are more verses in the Bible that speak to the kindness of God than the kindness of man.

Kindness is forgiving

Nonetheless, the verses that speak about our challenge to be kind are crystal clear that kindness goes hand-in-hand with forgiveness. Your measurement of commitment to being Christ to others is whether you accept forgiveness and grant forgiveness to others.

For example:

… be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you… 

Ephesians 4:32

If you want to understand better this idea of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, get very clear about the role that kindness, mercy and forgiveness play in your daily habits.

Consider how well you have mastered holding firm to kindness as a way of being.

love is kind, practising being kind, learning to be kind, kindness and truth

Don’t mistake kindness for niceness

In Proverbs we find:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart.

Proverbs 3:3 (NLV)

So, when we speak truth, it must be with kindness. And in order to be kind, we need to hold onto truth. Anything less is inauthentic. Is there any real kindness without truth?

We are told to speak the truth with love, with compassion and empathy. And that seems to be harder in our culture as we have lost the ability to have difficult conversations. We’ve learnt not to talk about politics or religion at the dinner table, but now that’s extended to we simply don’t talk about them. Then we wonder why society has lost the ability to speak about controversies with respect and kindness.

But, by the same token, if we are busy being nice, we might leave out the truth. Because that’s nicer. But it ignores the sense of betrayal that the other person gets when they find out the truth. It’s not always possible to simply be agreeable and not ruffle any feathers.

Living as a people-pleaser – always being nice – is exhausting. When the resentment starts – the niceness ends.

It’s much better to choose kindness with truth – which may be somewhat uncomfortable as you navigate learning how to be kind while being authentic, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the risks. Practising kindness includes being kind to yourself. It’s not just good deeds and being nice to others.

Kindness stands hand-in-hand with justice

The same way that kindness requires truth, it also requires justice. It doesn’t have to be a harsh and unforgiving justice, but it does require that injustice be stopped in its tracks.

Practising kindness may be as simple as standing up for someone in your community or school against bullying, or making a stand with part of your community for their right to be heard and given a fair audience.

He has told you, O man, what is good—
    and what does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 (MEV)

Perhaps you need to attend that community meeting. Or kindness might just be showing up at your local animal shelter and taking care of the rescues who no one has taken time to share love and justice with.

How can you choose today to show kindness and spread kindness in your community?

What does it look like for you when it goes hand-in-hand with justice?

love is kind, compassion and kindness, compassionate and kind, kind and loving

Kindness is patient, Spirit-filled living

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control …

Galatians 4:22-23 (RSV)

Can you practice kindness, thinking of others, without patience? What would it mean that love is kind, if you have no patience or no self-control?

Imagine, if you can, someone impatient, with no self-control, trying to be kind.

Consider, for a moment, kindness without gentleness and goodness.

The fruit of the Spirit all go hand-in-hand: in order to have one, you have to practice all of them. And as much as I would love to say you get baptised in the Spirit and it all magically changes and you become magically transformed into having all of those qualities at all times – my experience in life has been otherwise.

Much like a potter moulds the clay, we are moulded by life.

For better or for worse.

We get to choose whether we allow life’s lessons to teach us how to practice kindness and compassion in every situation – or whether we will simply react. Compassion and kindness are not learnt in a vacuum, but in our every day experiences.

In fact, spiritual growth is not what happens when you are ardently praying and studying. Spiritual growth is what happens when you are facing life’s storms!

  • It’s how you respond when someone is trying your patience.
  • The way you speak to someone when you haven’t had enough sleep.
  • How you choose love rather than anger, when another person is baiting you

Compassion and kindness show up every day as habits, the habitual way that you respond and react to life’s situations.

Practising kindness each day

Kindness is not something to practice and celebrate one day of the year!

It is the every day sweetness of life.

If you can’t be anything else – be kind.