Spiritual Thoughts

  A  kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.  ~ Washington Irving D o not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart ~ Proverbs 3:3

  T he more anger toward the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present. ~ Barbara DeAngelis B e angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:26, 32

  Friday Tale - Kindness   O nce my husband hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT). He was near the end of his three-day, 45-mile journey when a day hiker caught up to him. They chatted, as people on the trail do, and the other hiker went on. In the final mile of my husband's hike, he met the same hiker again going the other way.     The hiker smiled in recognition, and handed him, of all things, a Snickers bar. "I thought you'd like it," the guy said. My husband said he could have cried.      Wet, tired, aching, and yes, very hungry, that little gesture was exactly what he needed to make the final push. So no, an act of kindness is never "too little." It's never unimportant.     The best part is, my husband says that's the way of things for hikers on the AT — they look after each other, whether it's politely checking in with a woman hiking alone or offering help in a tricky situation. There's a so...

O ne kind word can  warm three winter months.  ~ Unknown   T he Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, BUT be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged. ~ 2 Timothy 2:24

V iew your life with KIND-sight. Stop beating yourself up about things from your past. Instead of slapping your forehead, and asking, "What was I thinking?!", breathe and ask yourself the kinder question, "What was I learning?"  ~ Karen Salmansohn   L et the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands, obtain guidance. ~ Proverbs 1:

  Friday Tale - Being Nice Y ears ago, in a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon strip, Dennis and his buddy, Joey, are walking away from the Wilson’s house with both hands full of cookies.   Joey reflected, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?”   Dennis delivered a truth-filled answer. “Look, Joey,  Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies, not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”   What Dennis said of Mrs. Wilson can be said of the One who created us. The good which comes our way is not payment for being good, because sometimes we have not been goo. God is good to us because God is good.   This is called grace which means unmerited, undeserved favor and kindness.   So the next time something good comes your way, say, “Thank you, Lord.” ~ Steve Goodier   W hoever is kind to the poor, lends to the LORD,   and He will reward them for what they have done. ~ Proverbs 19:17

  L ove doesn't just sit there, like a stone. It has to be made, like break; remade all the time, made new. ~ Ursula K. LeGuin I f you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. BUT love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. ~ Luke 6:32, 35

  I f you can't think of anything nice to say, you are not thinking hard enough. ~ Robby Novak L isten, for I, Wisdom, will speak noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right things. ~ Proverbs 8:6

B e nice to each other. You can make a whole day a different day for everybody. ~ Richard Dawson   B e kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  ~ Ephesians 4:32

I n the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit. ~ Anne Frank T he Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind and gentle to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil. ~ 2 Timothy 2:24

K ind words do not wear out the tongue -- so do speak them. ~ Unknown  A nxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, BUT a good word makes him glad. ~ Proverbs 12:25

T o err on the side of kindness is seldom an error. ~ Liz Armbruster B e kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32

S ometimes it is better to be kind        than to be right. We do not need an intelligent mind that speaks,       but a patient heart that listens. - Unknown The native people showed us unusual kindness,      for they kindled a fire, and welcomed us all,          because it had begun to rain and was cold.  -Acts 28:2

To speak kindly does      not hurt the tongue.       French Proverb The thoughts of the wicked      are an abomination to the Lord,          but gracious words are pure.   Ephesians 4:32