Kind, Tenderhearted, and Forgiving

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32.

I recently was walking into a restaurant and there in the landscaping, right beside the door was a rock, painted blue, and in big white letters were the words, Be Kind. Maybe you've seen painted rocks with words like Compassion, Love, Hope, Joy, and just those one or two words made you smile, made you want to do better at being a kinder, gentler, more forgiving person.

In Ephesians 4 the apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus that it is important how believers treat each other. And in verse four he shared three very simple, yet powerful words that can change any relationship from tense and stressed, to calm and sweet. (yes, sweet)

Kind. Just be kind. It costs us nothing to smile, it takes hardly anytime at all to open a door for someone, pick up something that has fallen from an older ladies' cart in WalMart, or allow someone  who has 2 items at Kroger to go ahead of your loaded down cart. Just be kind.

Tenderhearted. Tenderhearted is defined as having a kind, gentle, sentimental nature. It may take some cultivating on our part, but I believe anyone can develop a tender heart toward those who are sad and hurting. To be tenderhearted means to have empathy and compassion toward someone in need. All it takes is to imagine yourself in the other person's shoes and treating them the way you would want to be treated.

Forgiving. I must confess, I can sure hold onto old hurts. And the more I "entertain" those old memories, the bigger they get and if I'm not careful, they will consume me and manage to invade every part of my day. Paul wrote in Colossians 3 that we are to forgive as Jesus forgives (immediately) and not to wait until we "feel like it." Forgiveness is the mark of a maturing Christian.

I have found that my day goes better when I am kind, when my heart stays tender, not judging, and when I forgive the person who hurts me. Kindness, responding tenderly to those who are hurting, and forgiving others will start the healing process in them, but it really starts the healing in me.

Have a good, Good Friday. I hope you will attend church this Easter Sunday.