Be Ye Kind

This week's column for the church bulletin was based on our reading in Ephesians. I decided to take one of my kayaking pictures and make into an illustration. For the blog anyway...

When All Else Fails – Be Kind

Ephesians 4:32 is at the heart of one of my favorite songs I learned in Sunday School...

Be ye kind, one unto another; tenderhearted, forgiving one another; even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you. Doo-doo-doodley-doo. Ephesians 4:32.

If you know it, I hope you sang along. It’s one of the few times we see “doodley-doo” in the Bible, after all.

During my childhood, the message was timed perfectly with the re-release of “Bambi” in movie theaters and Thumper’s message: “If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.”

In other words, when all else fails, be kind.

Sounds easy enough. Yet, we live in a society where bullying – in its various forms and among all age groups – has claimed the national spotlight. Not just the acts themselves, but the stories of those trying to cope with it. And those who sadly couldn’t.

Is it really so very difficult to love and respect others? To share God’s love? I’m a big hugger, but I know that’s not in everyone’s comfort zone. How hard can it be, though, to say a kind word or, at a minimum, smile?

As Pastor Cheryl has alluded to often, we have a lot of brokenness in our church family. Look around you. The person in the pew right in front of you may be struggling with something overwhelming. Something monumental in their mind. We don’t know how much they need to hear your “Good morning,” your “Nice to see you!”, your “Peace be with you.”

Your gesture of kindness could be the difference between hope and despair for them. Even if just for today.

Can we make the effort? Throw in a “doodley-doo” or two if you have to. I know that lifts MY spirits.