Don’t seek to be happy; let everyone else chase after that rainbow. Seek to be kind and you’ll find the rainbow follows you.
(Richelle E. Goodrich)
Definition of Kindness:
The quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. Affection, gentleness, warmth, concern and care are words that are associated with kindness.
“You think kindness doesn’t pay. You believe that you will be taken advantage of if you’re kind.” That’s a lie the devil wants you to believe.
You see, kindness produces kindness. Now you may not immediately see the good that is produced by your kindness, but you’ll definitely hear about it one day. For a good deed will kickstart other good deeds that will come a full-circle back to you. If you sow good deeds, you will reap goodness.
Kindness can truly bring you happiness. It takes more courage and strength to be kind.
Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. (Mark Twain)
He performed a series of experiments examining the natural effects of words, prayers, music and environment on the crystalline structure of water. He noted that when kind and loving words were conveyed to the water, they formed a complete crystal structure compared to when hate and angry words were spoken over the water.
Since then, many have performed similar experiments on plants and even something as simple as a slice of bread. These experiments showed that even plants wilt faster when harsh words were spoken over them vis a vis the plants that were shown affection. The same results were seen in experiments on bread, where mould formed and deteriorated quicker on sliced bread that was exposed to curses or negative words spoken over it.
Likewise when we hear words of encouragement, comfort and kindness, we are filled with unspeakable warmth and hope. There is something deep within us, even the person with the ‘coldest’ personality or ‘stony’ demeanor will react positively when confronted with gentle and kind words or sincere actions.
While it may sometimes take longer to reach the inner person of some people, the truth is, we are built for affection. If the person doesn’t seem to want love or affection, he or she has probably been badly hurt and betrayed. There is a deep sense of rejection that may take some time to heal. So persist if you know of such people. Like water washing over rocks in the stream, the rough edges will soon be smoothened by your kindness.
Take heart, if you’re that person who finds it difficult to embrace others, you probably need acceptance more than anyone else. Life is a journey. Take slow steps to open up. It takes courage to be kind and to accept kindness. The effort to open up will be worth it. We are not made to live without any social contact.
For others, kindness makes them feel vulnerable, exposed and in some cases they react by feeling offended. This happens because they’ve been hurt too many times. However, if someone is brave enough to step forward and show them unconditional kindness, they’ll soon open up and recognize the sincerity of the giver. Even dogs and animals recognize kindness. So will humans. Yes, they may growl in the beginning, or even bark, but eventually it will become a whimper and finally a smile of recognition and acceptance.
So be brave. It doesn’t matter if you’re the one who needs to learn to open up, or you’re the person to embrace someone that needs that smile today. Step up, someone may be waiting for you. God make their day!
Artist: Lydia C. Text: Anna G
The Mouse Trap
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package.
“What food might this contain?” the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:”There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,“Mr Mouse, I can tell this is of grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,””There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!”
The pig sympathized, but said,”I am so very sorry, Mr Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.”
The mouse turned to the cow and said,”There is a mousetrap in the house!”
The cow said,”Wow, Mr Mouse, I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”
So the mouse returned to the house feeling dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – like the sound of mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness,she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient. But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer’s wife however, did not get well. In fact she died soon after. As many people attended her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. With great sadness, the mouse looked upon all that had happened from his crack in the wall.
So the next time, you hear that someone is facing a problem and you think it doesn’t concern you.
Remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry!
Source: Anonymous
