{"id":2965,"date":"2015-08-02T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2015-08-02T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=2965"},"modified":"2015-08-10T17:10:49","modified_gmt":"2015-08-10T22:10:49","slug":"choose-to-be-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=2965","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Be Kind"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Year of Choices…<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara\u2019s Banter at www.barbdahlgren.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Be<\/a>We live in a rude, self-centered world.\u00a0 Many are too busy to show common courtesies.\u00a0 Actually, courtesy is not quite as \u201ccommon\u201d as it used to be.\u00a0 The world can even be cruel \u2013 filled with bullies, revenge seekers and just plain hateful people.\u00a0 How does one influence a hate filled world?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the answer:\u00a0 with one small act of kindness at a time.\u00a0 God tells us to overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:20-21)\u00a0 God has been kind to us and we should be kind to others. (Ephesians 4:32)\u00a0 In fact God\u2019s kindness should flow from us to others.<\/p>\n

Kindness means doing good things for others.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s the act of being useful, helpful, considerate, and gracious in all situations.\u00a0 Kindness means we actually care about others \u2013 their feelings, their circumstances, their struggles, their suffering, etc.<\/p>\n

Studies show that kind acts stimulate the vagus nerve which literally warms up the heart and releases dopamine into our system.\u00a0 Dopamine is the hormone associated with positive emotions.\u00a0 Kindness reduces anxiety and depression.\u00a0 It alleviates stressful situations.<\/p>\n

When we treat others with kindness it has a great impact on everyone concerned \u2013 the one receiving the act of kindness, those seeing the act of kindness, and the one doing the act of kindness.\u00a0 It\u2019s a win\/win\/win scenario.\u00a0\u00a0 Eloquent words don\u2019t influence people as much as kindness does.\u00a0 One small gesture of kindness can change a person\u2019s life.\u00a0 Maybe that\u2019s why the Bible tells us not to discount the small things in life.\u00a0 (Zechariah 4:10)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works:\u00a0 we do the small act of kindness and God uses it to change lives. \u00a0We may not even know how God will use our act of kindness to influence or impact others.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need to know.\u00a0 Our job is to be kind; God will do the rest. A young boy shared his meager lunch with Jesus.\u00a0 He did not know Jesus would use it to feed a multitude, but He did. (John 6:10-11)<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 Acts of kindness are proactive.\u00a0 Many times we think kindness is merely going through life being nice and not trying to harm anyone.\u00a0 Real kindness is on a hot pursuit looking for those to bless.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a><\/p>\n

Kindness takes commitment. It\u2019s a choice we make. \u00a0The more we practice it, the easier it becomes.<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n