KINDNESS!!

Wow, it's been almost two weeks since I posted something on my blog!!! This will actually be the first post for 2009!! That either means reality has really set in and I don't have nearly as much time as I wish. Or, that means that there hasn't been anything very exciting to "blog" about!! Maybe a little of both!!!!

Well, today Trevor and I had to speak in our ward sacrament meeting for our church on the subject of being kind. I decided to post some of my thoughts on this subject since it consumed me for so long, and it was all I thought about for so long!!

Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should encircle all of our words and action's at work, at school, at church, in our community and especially in our homes. We often times get so caught up in getting everything done that needs to be done that its so easy to get stressed and take it out on our family members. The things we say, the tone of our voice, the anger or calm of our words-these things are noticed by our children. They see and learn both the kind and the unkind things we say and do. We need to be an example of kindness, gentleness and compassion for our children. They will emulate us, both to each other and to their peers. Nothing exposes our true selves more than how we treat one another in the home.

There are so many things in this world that are out of our control, sickness, death, financial hardships, the list goes on and on, but kindness is one of the few things we can control. It is an attitude that comes from within us. At any given time, we may lose our strength, our health, our money, and every single possession, but we will never lose the happiness in our lives if we are kind and unselfish.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can't all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us? There is so much jealousy, pride, arrogance, gossiping, criticism, and people who rise in anger over small unimportant things."

The Savior was the epitome of kindness and compassion. Kindness is one of the most Christlike attributes we can develop. In striving to perfect ourselves, we will find that we need to learn to love as the Savior loves.
On the very night that Jesus was to be delivered up to cruel men, to be spit upon, beaten, whipped, tortured and finally killed, the Savior made this crowning pronouncement to his disciples. Knowing full-well his fate, he said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." The love that the savior intended was to be much more than something we said, much more than an affectionate feeling, it was to be the kind of love that has an unimaginable far reaching impact.

Last week we had a very big snow storm. Our kids love being outside and especially playing in the snow. One of their favorite things to do is go sledding behind the four-wheeler. Trevor drives and hooks the sleds up to the four-wheeler and takes them for a ride. We have a fairly big yard that we use, but Trevor also enjoys pulling them through the road. We are full aware that this is probably not legal, but since we live on a dead end street without very much through traffic we feel it is still safe. Apparently one of our neighbors doesn't feel the same way! Someone called the Sheriffs department last week and make a complaint about us doing this. Three out of four of my children also had other "incidents" last week where they felt they had been treated very unkind. I don't know if the people who I felt were being unkind to us, were really intentionally trying to hurt us, but it was very discouraging. All of these incidents were the week I was supposed to stand and speak on Kindness. What a difficult week it has been to let these, maybe small, but still upsetting incidences go. I honestly feel that Satan was testing me, and it was a tough test!! When someone hurts us our first reaction is to lash back and hurt them in return. But one thing I have learned in my life, and especially this week is that "returning meanness to meanness, only brings more meanness!!"

I hope that I can be more kind and Christlike in all that I do! I also hope that I never have to speak in church again!! (OK, at least for a very very long time!!!)(LOL!!)