Kindness

 April 17, 2020

Kindness

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
― Mother Teresa

 

 

Ah, to be able to carry this out on a regular basis, might be the greatest gift of all.

 

Kindness- the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. God’s friendliness, God’s consideration, God’s generosity- these things add up to what perhaps Mother Theresa was speaking of when she mentioned- God’s kindness.

 

So how then can we employ kindness in our face, our eyes, and/or our smile? Isn’t a smile enough?! I’ll bet not. You’ve seen someone suspiciously smile before, the type of smile that sets you on edge, or makes you wonder what is lurking behind the upturned lips and shining teeth.

 

I don’t want to seem negative, but there are times that people do attempt to deceive using their smile. And then there are times that we just interpret a smile as not genuine. Unfortunately, we do have to be capable of reading between the lines of a smile. So, with all our hearts let us resolve each day to prepare ourselves for presenting ourselves in a genuine way, especially when we smile.

 

Have you ever practiced smiling? It seems odd at first, but I encourage you to do so. Launching a smile upon someone else could be the kindest moment they have received in years. So, do practice then. Stand in front of a mirror and look at yourself. Smile. Is it hard and swift? Does it present something wry? Check out your eyes, can you soften them? And how about your face? Find ways to relax the muscles and relieve the tension carried from the rest of the day.

 

I’m willing to bet doing this might be uncomfortable and surprising. I bet you never realized that you look the way you do. You may not be as warm as you once thought, or better yet, you find yourself pleased with the reception that your face, eyes, and smile lavish.

 

When we finally return to worship, practice on me when I’m in the pulpit- you’d be surprised how many of you look as you watch, it might scare some of you if I were to video you!  

 

So, Sister Theresa’s plea to us all is to unleash a calming and affirming message using no words whatever. Use your beautiful face to employ softness, welcome, affirmation, and acceptance. Decide now that no matter the other person’s mood, yours will share the above.

 

“When Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing.”

 

Rev. Ken