Use words to speak kindness, energy to offer hope, compassion to ease suffering, impact for peace versus inciting fear. Offer a helping hand or answer a question.
Cause people to feel seen. Note the worth of each person created in Christ’s image.
Show up and be kind. Be steadfast. Persevere.
It is hard intentional work to follow in the steps of an humble Carpenter and His often upside-down kingdom.
It’s much easier to be negative, spew out opinions, malign character, stand on our own smug, self-important soapboxes, point fingers.
For two reasons: 1. It’s much more self satisfying to focus on other’s errors than examine the log in my own eye.
2. It takes real character and heart to listen and seek to understand a different viewpoint or life experience.
Jesus always showed up for the suffering, the meek, those willing to listen. He sought out the broken, the outcast, the misfits. He never forced Himself or His beliefs on a single person. He beckoned with empathy. He handed out bread and life. Jesus never mocked or belittled. He wept over Jerusalem and watched a widow give a mighty offering of two mites.
Jesus is with us today.
The older I get, the more questions I have. I don’t understand so much. Hard things happen all around our world. They have all through history.
Yet, the older I get, the more I believe in the power of hope and gratitude and kindness.
Where I place my trust and focus will show up in my life. Whether it be in money or power or horses and chariots, or whether it be in remembering the Name of the Lord our God.
I can write it all out one hundred times easier than I can live it out well. This has me reaching for the grace and strength of my Jesus.
“May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful!” Psalm 68:3
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