Be Ye Kind

And be ye kind one to another,

tender-hearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake

hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

As I write this blog, I am very sad. I talked with a lady (that I will refer to as Sarah) who has been a faithful member of my Sunday school class for years, even before I began teaching the class a little over a year ago. At first, I wasn't real sure she liked me very much, mostly because I know I was very different from what she had been used to. I was almost scared of her but determined that I was going to allow God to love her through me, thus I would come to love her in the process. She's a very different personality but I treated her like a good friend and I consider that she became just that in my life.

I learned through the grapevine recently that she's decided to leave our church and thus my Sunday school class. I can't really express what a personal loss this is to me. She's always sat at the far end of the table from me with her Bible open anticipating the lesson of the day. She and I have kidded each other on occasion and after Sunday morning church, she's even kiddingly gotten on Brian's case either telling him to be good or to keep me in line. He's probably the only man in the church she has even slightly kidded with.

After absorbing the blow of the news, I immediately called her and I believe she was anticipating my call. I didn't insult her by beating around the bush. I told her I had heard of her decision and wondered what in the world was going on. She is the one who for a brief time beat around the bush. She has and still does have a difficult life but we didn't discuss that as we have in times past. She spoke of having attended an even smaller church than ours that is here in our town many years ago. She might return to it if she can get transportation. She had attended it when her husband was still alive. I dared to wade out a little deeper with her on the subject and asked her how she would compare the two churches other than in size. Then she bowled me over. She simply said that at this other church, people are kind.

What on earth...where did that come from? Every church has it's elements of unkind people with attitudes. Every church has it's cliques from teenagers to senior saints. I have found the people in our church for the most part to be caring, kind people but I have an advantage of playing the piano and teaching a ladies Sunday school class and Bible Study. Because of those things, I'm more known than my friend who sits quietly alone on the same pew Sunday morning after Sunday morning. She isn't the kind to run around the auditorium during shaking hands time to greet everyone there. Folks would need to approach her. It dawned on me that for the nine years she's been a member of our church, she feels she's never fit in, never really had a spot that was hers. The burdens she bears are so heavy upon her, she doesn't have the energy nor does she have the make-up to launch out on some kind of social venture.

It's so easy for us on a busy Sunday morning to rush to church and then to the areas of our responsibilities to pay much attention to the Sarah's that might be sitting alone, just hoping someone will speak to them. Even in a ladies class of any size, in all probabilities there is at least one lady who desperately needs a friendly word...a little kindness.

How does a dictionary define the word kindness? Some definitions given for it are: good, charitable behavior, pleasant disposition, concern for others, compassion and tenderness.

Any one of those is a very tall order but if that's how a worldly dictionary defines kindness, what must be expected of us in light of Scripture.

Ephesians 4:32 begins with an emphasis on kindness and tenderness but then almost seems to jump to another subject...forgiveness. I am wondering if this verse isn't organized the way it is in order to stress with us that forgiveness is one of the kindest things we can do toward another person. When we are called upon to forgive, it is so little in light of the forgiveness Jesus extended to all from the cross.

In Proverbs 31:26 the special lady that is featured in that chapter and this verse is interesting as well:

She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Here we see a link between wisdom and kindness. You and I are people of wisdom when we speak using the law of kindness.

In Colossians 3:12, we are given a list of things we are to “put on.”

                                Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

    bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,

long-suffering...

...and the list goes on. I find nowhere in Scripture where we have permission to ever be rude, egocentric, impatient and yes, unkind.

You know, I'm not concerned about Sarah's salvation. She loves Jesus, loves His Word and is just a good-hearted lady who doesn't have a lot of caring people around her in every day life. I somehow feel robbed...robbed of the privilege of having Sarah in my class and in my life. I'll still stay in contact and pray for the day she might return. I am praying for myself a renewal of sensitivity toward those around me...the loner on the back pew, the stranger I pass in the hall, the tourist (believe me, we have many week after week) who visits our church who may be there with a broken heart and won't let it show. Remember Jesus' words...

...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one

of the least of these my brethren, ye have

done it unto Me.

Matthew 25:40

I'm so very sorry, Sarah, and will be praying for your return. I miss you more than I can say.

Dear Father, please keep me sensitive to people around me, and not just those at church. Whether in the grocery store, neighborhood or on a mountain trail may I have a kind word and encouraging spirit toward all I meet no matter what my personal burdens may be. Amen