Kindness - Senior Blogger: Sharron M.

   Have you ever had someone do something nice for you? How did it make you feel? Did you want to do nice things for others?

   Amy Carmichael, a missionary in India is quoted as saying, "One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving."

   Giving of ourselves is extremely important as followers of Christ. We are taught to prefer our brother over ourselves and to serve others. Giving may be difficult at first, but as you get in the habit of doing it, you find the blessings you reap afterward is well worth it. Remember, giving is expecting nothing in return. If you expect to gain some benefit for giving, it is not truly giving and you feel as if you've been taken advantage of.

   Over the weekend, I heard from a sweet young sister who told me that because I had done something kind, an older sibling had "paid" it forward to her, then she had "paid" it forward to a younger sibling, who then "paid" it forward to someone else. I was amazed and gratified at the chain of kindness we had created. Praise God! What an encouragement.

   It reminds me of a parable Jesus told in the Bible, where a man who owed the king much money, had been forgiven of his debt. This same man went out and found someone who owed him money. Instead of being kind and "paying" it forward, the man did a very selfish thing. He demanded that the other man pay him all that he owed. When the other man couldn't, the selfish man had him thrown in prison.

   This story has a happy ending, however. When the king heard about what the selfish man had done, he released the one held in prison and put the selfish man in prison instead! (Matthew, Chapter 18)

   Some people say, "What goes around, comes around." Others say, "It's Karma."

   I believe it is the law of God.

  My daily prayer is to become like the Proverbs 31 woman, mentioned in the Bible: "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." (Proverbs 31:26)

   The Word of God also says that we are known as Christians by our love. (John 13:35) I want to be known as a Christian, and I want to show Christ's love to others.

   Thank you for all your prayers, please know that I pray for each of you, my dear readers. May God richly bless you.