My daughter came into the kitchen and announced that she was going to make cards for our neighbors. No special occasion, she just wanted to make cards.
We gathered up markers, paper, and envelopes and she set to work. A little while later, I looked over at her three-year old head bowed in deep concentration over her work.
“They’re going to love your cards,” I said, encouraging her sweet efforts.
“I know,” she replied matter-of-factly.
She spoke with such assurance. She definitely doesn’t get that from me. She knew that making cards was a nice thing to do and therefore, of course the recipients were going to appreciate it.
I, on the other hand, am an over-analyzer. If overanalyzing were a sport, I’m pretty sure I’d be an Olympic medal contender. I will overthink something until I’ve thought myself right out of it — even something as simple and nice as giving a card to a neighbor.
My train of thought might go something like this: I don’t know that person all that well . . . will giving them a card creep them out? What will I write in the card? What will they think of me? I don’t even have a real occasion to write a card. Maybe I should wait until Christmas . . . that would give me a good excuse to write a card. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.
As if anyone ever needed a reason to justify an act of kindness. Jesus certainly didn’t.
The Boldness of Christ
Just imagine what would have happened if He hadn’t spoken to the woman at the well? What if He feared that she, being a Samaritan woman, would misunderstand or misinterpret His kindness? It was this very conversation that sparked the faith of this woman and “many of the Samaritans of that city” {John 4:39}.
Or suppose that Jesus had reservations about calling Zacchaeus down from the tree and decided to just pass him by instead of expressing His desire to spend time with this dishonest tax collector. Zacchaeus didn’t question Jesus’ motives, he “received Him joyfully” both in his home and as his Savior {Luke 19:1-10}.
Kindness Is Golden
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” {Luke 6:31}.
We hear this so often it can begin to lose its meaning.
But think, for a minute, about how you respond when someone extends kindness to you? Do you recoil in horror at their unexpected gesture? Do you jump to the worst possible conclusion about their intentions? Do you wish they had kept their kindness to themselves and left you in peace?
No, of course not. When someone reaches out to us with a kind word, an encouraging note, or a considerate gesture, we are touched. We are thankful. We are moved. And we are reminded afresh that we are loved, both by God and His messenger.
Let this truth sink in. Let it slowly remove the layers of insecurity that have tarnished the beauty of this “golden rule.”
Empowered
The Lord Jesus was bold in His kindness toward others and wants us to be the same way. But He knows our insecurities will continue to plague our best intentions, so He gives His Spirit to overcome our fears and doubts,
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” {2 Timothy 1:7}.
We have it all — an empowering Spirit who can fill us with love for those around us and give us a soundness of mind to overcome our anxious thoughts. This is everything we need to reach out to others in love with a childlike faith that confidently declares, “Yes, I know they will love this.”
I think my comfort zone just got a little broader.
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Related: Celebrate the everyday-ness of life together and mail one of these encouraging notes to a friend.
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What a great story, the child like faith that gets worn out of us, as we grow up, that we have to make our way back to as Christian women in order serve the Lord and bless others, it’s shameful how others, or the lies of the devil, or even just our minds that seem to be on a loop, playing back every painful thought or word to discredit us, can hold us back, hinder God’s plans for us or even paralyze us with fear. Step out of the boat like Peter, but focus on Him. Keep that daughter of God mentality, keep shining! Keep loving!
I say a great big ‘Amen’ to that, Rebecca!
I think sometimes our intentions CAN be misunderstood and that really hurts. This happened to me just recently. I try to remember that Jesus was kind to others but it was certainly not always understood or valued. Yet – He kept on giving, kept on loving regardless.
That is the challenge – to keep on giving even when it may be misunderstood or not accepted in the way we had hoped. By keeping our sights on Jesus Christ – we are enabled to overcome our anxieties and our concerns and reach out in kindness regardless of the
outcome…..
You’re right, Janice. And being misunderstood when I reach out scares me off of reaching out again. It IS such a challenge to reach out again. It’s hard to entrust our hearts to Him, look away from our own hurts, and reach out again. We definitely can’t do it without His help
Jana,
I had an incident years ago where I heard God say send her a card. My thought was I don’t know her well, how will she take it, etc. He kept pushing and I finally gave in. The best thing I could have done. We bonded and shared a short friendship (till she left company). Now I send cards all the time, no reason. Maybe my reason is I love getting encouragement in the mail or email, so do unto others!
Blessings 🙂