The hardest part about all of this for me is the practical side, specifically, parenting with kindness especially when they are little. How do I respond to a disobedient child without an angry tone so they know they have done something wrong? And How do I explain how serious it is when one of my children does something potentially harmful with kindness instead of ugly anger? What do those kinds of things look like in real life?
I am still learning and always will be. Anger does not produce heart change; it produces shame. Yelling does not produce understanding; it produces hurt. Harsh words do not produce love; they produce humiliation. Intimidation does not produce kindness; it produces fear.
Only kindness produces kindness; kindness produces love.💗
I’ve already seen a return on my investment. As I trust God to help me respond to my rebellious/crazy children in kindness and love instead of fear and anger, these young hearts are learning that kindness is always right and they treat each other with kindness. What a joy for my mama’s heart!
The Book of Romans tells us that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. I want to love with a kindness that nurtures a hard heart to desire to be soft. God is the only one able to transform someone else’s heart, but if I live a life submitted to Him, then His love will be reflected through me.
When has kindness made a difference in your life? Do you struggle to show kindness to others? To your children and loved ones? Who around you could use a few words of kindness or maybe a big act of kindness? Do you trust God to help you respond to others in kindness instead of defensiveness, anger, etc.? What would it look like for you to be kind to someone who might feel overlooked and unseen? How have you seen God’s kindness?
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