It Is Possible
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” ~ Dalai Lama
I think that, generally, I am a kind and loving person. However, there are people who know how to push my buttons and often seem to do so. It is extremely hard to be kind at those times. I know that I am no different than you. As you read that, you probably thought about the people in your life who push your buttons as well and to whom you often find it difficult to be kind.
However, if we are to be honest, we would have to admit that “difficult” and “impossible” are two entirely different words. It might be difficult, at times, to be kind but it is never impossible. As a matter of fact, it is precisely in those circumstances that we have the best opportunity to exercise our discipleship in the Lord Jesus. He was kind to all, even those who persecuted Him and to those who nailed Him to the cross.
I believe that one of the reasons why it is so much more difficult to be kind nowadays is that we live in a society and a world that doesn’t seem to value kindness. Our society is filled with hate. We are experiencing it right now in the continuing political saga of a contested election. Angry rhetoric and hurtful things are being said over and over again. It is hard to maintain one’s cool when the world around us has lost theirs.
That is when we need to remind ourselves which world is more important. Is the world around us the one that matters? If so, we will throw ourselves into it, hate and all. If, on the other hand, the world of the Kingdom of God is more important, we will summon up all the energy and all the grace that we have in order to live as cool-headed, loving, compassionate people just as the Lord would have us live.
Is it possible? Yes, it is. Is it easy? No, it’s not. However, God gives us the grace that we need to do the possible, even when it is extremely difficult.
FAITH ACTION: Be kind in all your words and in all your actions today. Ask God for help to do it. He will give you the grace you need.