Be Kind

I try to go to the temple once a week--a place where I feel peace, and feel close to the Lord.  When I'm there, I always take time to reflect on my life and to pray for guidance.  Every week, I end my prayer and meditation by asking the Lord what He would want me to know and do.  Every week, I get the same answer, "Be kind." And every week, it rings true to my heart that I really need to work on being kind--and mostly to my husband and sweet children.  So this post is mostly for my own benefit.

I met a woman today who has been happily married for 52 years.  She was remarking that her husband is such a likeable man that everyone loves him, and people often tell her how lucky she is to be married to such a kind person.  She went on to say that he is a great guy, but that none of those people ever see the "real" him, the side of him that gets grumpy and frustrated, and is sometimes unkind.  We wondered together why we are kind to others around us, and least kind to our family members and spouse--the very people we SHOULD treat the best.  Unfortunately, it is a real challenge to treat our spouse and children with kindness all the time. 

Do you ever see a chance to do a kind deed for your spouse, but you withhold it because you feel that they don't deserve it?  Do you ever think that when your spouse does such-and-such for you, or acts a certain way, THEN you will be kind?  The Lord has told us: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:32.)  I think this scripture is great marriage advice.  It is hard to be kind, especially when we are stressed, tired, or busy.  And especially when we feel that the receiver of our kindness doesn't "deserve" it.  But no act of kindness is ever wasted.  A simple act of kindness can change the giver and the receiver for good.  Stop trying to keep score.  Don't let someone else's behavior guide your own.  It is funny how when you love and serve someone, your heart is softened towards them, and your love for them grows.  Feed your love--and your own happiness--by being kind.