Kindness... Part 2 (And, an update)

Hello, ladies!!!

It has been awhile and I apologize. I have been wanting to finish out my posts on kindness, but I literally have not had enough time to sit down and write. 

Last week was SUCH a busy week. It was a good week, fun too... just busy.

There was literally something going on every single night of the week! Thursday, we were at the Braves game for Chipper Jones' bobble head night! It was a lot of fun and of course the Braves won!

Also, I got hit yesterday afternoon with the nastiest cold. I feel slightly better today but still want to just crawl in bed. I'm fighting it though because I really really really want to finish this up! I feel it pressing on me today and I just know that its so important for someone to hear on this very day!!!

But, before I begin... I must ask you... Have you tried NUTELLA??? That stuff is amazing. I've eaten half of that jar in one day. Pretzels + nutella is a pretty spectacular combination. 

Ok, lets begin with the previous disclaimer-

DISCLAIMER : Nothing, and I mean nothing that I am about to share with you is because I believe that I have mastered kindness. In fact, I will only speak to you girls about things that I struggle with myself. I'm sharing what I'm learning.. so that you may learn also. Please, never think that I see myself as superior and as someone who believes I know everything.
Now, here we go... 

Ephesians 4: 31-32 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Those are our verses on kindness. In the last post, which you can read here we talked about verse 31. I broke down bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking and malice for you. 

I hope that you all accepted my challenge to read through Ephesians and to pray for your sisters in Christ. I know how difficult it can be to just be a teenaged girl. Life is tough for y'all and the girls around you can make it even harder. However, just because they are unkind to you does not mean that you are required to retaliate... Like I said before, you are required to be kind. 

Now, we will focus on verse 32.  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

What does it mean to be kind? According to the dictionary it is a person of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.

Kindness is NOT the person who continually judges, criticizes and puts down other people. We all know someone that makes us feel bad about ourselves. That person who never makes us feel good enough. She has the best clothes and house and car, but she is mean. She is unkind. 

Is that person you?

Please don't be that kind of girl.

Be tenderhearted.

To be tenderhearted basically just means to be compassionate and sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. 

When you see a girl that is overweight do you immediately make fun of her? Or do you think about the possibilities... maybe this girl is suffering from an eating disorder, maybe she was raped as a child, maybe she has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. You never know what someone is going through. Think before you speak. What about the girl in your school that wears the same unfashionable clothes day after day. Do you make fun of her behind her back? Or do you think about the fact that maybe she is a foster kid who needs a friend. Whatever the case may be, you should always look on others with compassion. Its not something that I always do either, but we should strive everyday to love our sisters in Christ with a tender heart. 

Forgiving one another... Yikes. I really hate telling people that they need to forgive because I know how hard it can be. It is extremely difficult and also a little scary to let go of those deep rooted feelings and emotions. However, it is required and it is freeing. I read this today, "If someone has wounded you - no matter how deeply - you must choose to forgive them." Its not easy, but it can be done. It may take time, years even, but it can be done. It all starts with a decision. The decision to forgive, to look past the hurt and see them through God's eyes. Forgiveness. Just as God for Christ's sake forgave YOU. God will give you the freeing power of forgiveness with time as you continue to ask for it.

I pray that you girls have learned the true power in being kind. It is a rare treasure to find kindness in young girls your age. Be that treasure to someone else. Be the sister who can be trusted. The sister who is a safe place for others. Be a sister who is a true treasure to another. 

I'm going to give you another challenge for this week that is very similar to the last one. Continue to meditate on these verses. Tape them on your mirror or wherever you will see them if you haven't already. Continue to pray for those sisters that you find it hard to be kind to. Next, pray for those that you need to forgive. 

That grudge you're holding will diminish the more you pray for them. 

THIS WEEK do at least ONE act of kindness for TWO different sisters that you notice may need some encouragement and uplifting. A note, candy, a flower, anything that will lift their spirits.

And, remember that God is making His strength perfect through your weaknesses. Don't give up. Stay encouraged. He wants to use you. 

If you need prayer, encouragement or advice this week (or anytime) you can anonymously email me here -ashleannepotter@gmail.com

Love you, beauties!!!