Around the time I got married, my friend, Brecken, gave me a calendar of quotes. It was charming with old fashioned colored black and white pictures, and flowers in the corners. This block of paper sat on the desk in our tiny studio apartment. I loved tearing the old day off and reading what was in store for me on the new day that appeared. On Monday, October 4, 2004, I read
"Part of kindness is loving people more than they deserve." [Joseph Joubert]
I thought about it all day, and when tomorrow came and it was time to tear the sheet off, I found myself unable to throw it away. I tore it off and put it in my scriptures. It remains there to this very day, nearly 5 years later. I look at it often, I say the words over and over again in my head. I say a modified version because I think the actual quote is "A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve."
I can't help but think of the way I am loved perfectly by Christ, despite my imperfections. And if he can love me that way, then I have absolutely no justification for not showing that same sort of kindness to those around me.
C.R. Gibson wrote:
I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight,
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet felt a twinge of regret,
for being a little too kind.
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BrieAnn, you have no idea how much I needed to hear these words. I love you for sharing your thoughts and make me reflect upon my own life. Thank you, friend!
ReplyDeleteKindness matters! I get A LOT of slack for always being too kind. I don't know why some people think it's such a terrible thing, especially when they are always the beneficiaries of it.
ReplyDeletePS I thought of you today when I opened my paper and it said, 'Happy Punctuation Day!' (you being an English teacher ) So, I'm saying, "Happy Punctuation Day" to you! I also apologize for my overuse of the exclamation point if it bothers you.
What a great quote. This world could definately use a lot more kindness.
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