Kindness... Part 1

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."

I have known those verses forever. When I was a kid, I knew a whole song about "being kind one to another" and honestly, since I've been so familiar with these verses they haven't meant as much to me as they probably should. Unfortunately, that's how it goes when you grow up memorizing scripture. You learn a lot without ever thinking about what it really means. But, girls, this is SO important.

Kindness is such a huge part of being sisters in Christ. It isn't easy, in fact its one of the hardest things for us girls, but it is crucial. Even better, it is required of us to be kind. 

So, let us begin with verse 31... "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."

Bitterness is really resentment of another person or hostility towards some one else. If your bitter towards someone, it may be because they have hurt you very badly or done something to someone you love. I don't know why you may have bitterness in your heart toward someone else, but I can tell you that you need to "put it away". Yes, the person that hurt you may have been very wrong, but now you are wrong also. Its not easy to let things go, believe me I understand. I have been and can be the biggest grudge holder at times. I can let the thought of someone else ruin my day. However, when I let go of that bitterness and just forgive, it gives a freedom that can only come from God. Remember, being bitter towards someone hinders you and keeps you from being who you were called to be. It effects you greater than the other person. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. let it go.

Wrath and anger pretty much go hand in hand. We have all been upset and angry with another person at some point and guess what? Even God says its alright to be angry. Anger is just another emotion. It becomes sin when we allow our anger to control the way we act and what we say. Damage is done with anger.  So, "put it away".

Clamour. The only way I know how to explain this one is a noisy expression of something you don't like. In my mind, I go to a high school lunch table. Everyone at the table is upset about their horrible teacher who gave them too much homework. So, they spend their entire lunch hour droning on and on about how badly they dislike him and how they can't believe they're stuck in that class. Blah blah blah... Its just noise.. They could be spending that time making plans for the weekend, lifting each other up, talking about the good things that are happening in their lives, but instead they waste that time complaining.

Evil speaking is gossip. We are ALL guilty. This is perhaps the thing that bugs me the most, yet I fall into it constantly. I'm not going to go too deep into this one because I still have a long way to go myself. Just think about how badly it hurts to find out that a friend has been talking ill of you behind your back. Someone you thought you could trust, someone you loved and believed that they loved you. It hurts. I've been there and you probably have to. So why in the world would we do that to someone else? Because, its easy and its mindless. Beware of gossiping. Make a point not to do it. If you don't try not to, you easily will. Over and over again.

Paul tells us to put away all of these things, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking. Put it away with all malice..here's the actual definition - the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.

That sounds pretty nasty to me. Honestly, when I break down each of these things I realize how guilty I am at times and how badly I don't want to be that kind of girl. I want to be a safe place for other girls, a very kind person. I hope that you do too.

So, here is the challenge : Read through the book of Ephesians this week. Maybe only one chapter a day, I'm certain you can find time for at least that. Write these verses (4:31-32) where you will see them several times a day. Your mirror, the background of your phone, your locker, wherever. Pray for strength to "put away" these things and remember to pray for those other girls that you find it hard to be kind to.  The more you pray for them, the more you will see them through God's eyes. Then, do one act of kindness for a girl like that. THIS WEEK. Buy them some candy, write them a note, let them know they look nice. Its really simple and may seem small, but it goes SUCH a long way. Remember, you never know what that person may be going through.
Also, don't get discouraged when you fail. God sees you trying and He will help you progress as you ask Him for help. He doesn't, however, wave a wand and make you perfect over night. He uses your weaknesses to make Him strong through you. Remember that and stay encouraged! 

Let me know through the comments how you completed the challenge this week. YOU CAN DO IT!

Love you girls!

Part 2... COMING SOON!