Kindness Is Free

Something I have learned this past week is this world has some very rude people in it. So many times I find myself becoming frustrated that someone has bad manners and couldn't even express an ounce of kindness to me. Some of you might call me old fashioned and think I should get over my obsession with good manners but it kind of hurts when you try to be as nice as can be and another person doesn't return the same kindness. However, my mom always tells me "everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about". Now this is extremely hard to remind myself of when I am hurt but despite how irritated or upset I become I have no idea what is going on in that persons life. Is one of their loved ones dying in the hospital? Did they get fired from a job? Are they having to separate from their wife or husband? So many things can be happening and who am I to get mad when I most likely don't even know their story. 

Now I know there are a lot of people in the Bible who have been looked down upon or disrespected, but one person I can think of who was treated with the most disrespect and rudeness is Jesus. The Son of Man was sent to a cross to be mocked and slandered because He loved us. Who would love a sinner like that? What man would endure brutal whippings and harsh criticism because of me? Jesus. He did it because we were so far off that there was no chance of making up what we had done. No matter how many nice things you've done in your life or how kind you've been to others we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of the Father (Romans 3:23). His kindness is what made up for our unfaithfulness and He made us whole with Him again because despite how rude we've been over the course of our lives to other people He still loves you beyond anything you could ever imagine.

When I'm having a bad day and it feels like everyone is just out to get me I have to remind myself that I have a savior in heaven who is kind and listens to the cares of my heart. He is just and weeps with you when things don't work out the way you want them to or even when you are rejoicing over something great in your life, Jesus is present. Don't think that God is blind to your pain or that He doesn't care, He endured the most unimaginable pain just for you. I know that things might seem bleak today but Jesus sees your good efforts so keep pushing to make sure people feel loved, valued, and wanted. You may be the only Bible someone sees today and whether they accept it or not show them the love of Jesus even if no one showed it to you. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and despite how hard that may be on some days God doesn't call the qualified He qualifies the called, He's called you to be kind friends.

May the peace and love of God be with you always,

Leah Carpenter