Matthew 5:47  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you any different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. (NLT)

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The hard truth about kindness is that is seldom about what I do for me. It is almost always about what I do for others. Kindness is by definition not self-serving. Kindness focuses on another, and often on others who are not terribly kind themselves. 

A quick internet search finds more articles and videos about how to be kind to yourself than how to be kind to others. Who knew there were too few people concerned primarily about themselves? 

(Ahem)

There are indeed times when we need to be kind to ourselves. There are many more times when we need to be kind to others. 

The best way to practice self-kindness is by showing kindness to others. 

If we err on the side of showing kindness to ourselves, we’re probably misunderstanding Jesus’ intent regarding kindness. 

You get the idea from what Jesus says here that kindness should become a lifestyle, rather than something we choose occasionally. It should be our default setting. It’s a setting that should not be turned off, and it’s a setting best aimed at others. 

How will you practice kindness today? 

How will you make kindness your default?

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I will make kindness my default setting by practicing it even with those I don’t particularly want to help and those who make help inconvenient. 

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Our Father, empower me to demonstrate kindness to everyone all the time. Make this my default setting. Teach me the many ways I can take the right lead actions of kindness. Amen.