New Reminders: Kindness

I have written about compassion, which has a lot in common with kindness.  In fact, we sometimes use the two terms interchangeably.  The difference, for me, is that kindness is an attitude while compassion is an action.  Kindness is the good intention; compassion is the follow-through.  Compassion does not exist without a kind attitude.  Kindness is the desire to be a nice person.  We were all taught, to be nice, to share, to try to think about how another person might feel.  Our parents wanted us to be aware of what another person might be missing.  Remember all those poor little Chinese children who were “starving”, so that we ought to “quit complaining and eat your vegetables?”  It is that kind of awareness of the other, that we grew up wanting to help. 

We need to re-sensitize ourselves, and those around us, to one another.  We need to awaken some of our deadened senses, to shine a small light in what can be dark times.  We need to lift each other’s spirits to make us more caring.  When we see the “other” as someone different, scary or less-valuable than ourselves, our instinct is to ignore them, or worse yet, put them out of our sight and mind.  We need to see (really see) everyone as our equal, in the sight of God, and respond to them with love and understanding.  Kindness comes from a place of love.  Compassion is the outward expression of loving kindness.

“If we are asking for the world to be kind, we must first ask, what are we doing to add more kindness to the world.  If we are asking for the world to be more loving, we must first ask, what are we doing to add more love to the world.  We are the vessels for the things we seek.” Joél Leon

“I have seen human beings do and become terrible things as they destroy the world.  I have also learned that only those things made of kindness, justice, and hope can save the world.”  Danté Stewart

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not.” Dr. Seuss

“With all of the bad things that are happening in the world right now, I think we need a message of togetherness and true unity.  I believe that starts with personal reflection and then we can find kindness toward each other.”  Marielle Heller

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

 “In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7