Love is Kind
It is within the space of kindness that the heart heals.
Kindness is simply an expression of love. It evicts the attitude of indifference.
Some people think they are being kind by giving others space when the truth of the matter is they just wish to avoid messiness.
To be truly kind is to be present and engaged without becoming the center of attention, the hero of the story. Kind people minister to others in the way they just are. No pretension. No condemnation.
The risk of kindness is to be manipulated. This is why smart kind people control access to their deepest selves to those they can trust. From their protected hearts, smart kind people can minister to the hurting without being overwhelmed by the pain and neediness of others. They know how to soak up the love they need before entering the wastelands of another’s world.
True kindness involves a strong focus and deliberate positive actions for the benefit of others.
It isn’t a generality.
You might enjoy this article I recently found on the power of the kindness of strangers to change your day. Her subtitle is “kindness in flight.”
I agree Ben, selflessness or kindness to others has to be done with proper perspective, or balance and respect for ones self as well as the receiver.
Wonderful piece Ben, particularly your comments on smart kindness. It all reminded me of the following verse. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”
Philippians 2:3