Kindness Awakened
Kindness isn't just an act; it's the sunrise that brightens the landscape of life.
Enjoy the little things. For one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
Robert Brault
Kindness Awakened
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.
Gratitude is the expression of being thankful. In a Biblical sense, the feeling expressing gratitude brings is "kindness awakened". I am unable to find an issue with that depiction of gratitude's effects. We must look at many sources in order to find the essence of what any particular concept is, including gratitude.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Hebrews 12:28
Defined psychologically, gratitude involves a positive emotional response we perceive on giving or receiving a benefit from someone. Gratitude comes in many forms and is associate with happiness and encouragement. Definitions can be quite boring to read and believe me, they’re a chore to write. The importance of having a clearly defined concept is immeasurable despite how efficiently they put us to sleep. Brace yourself for many more as this book continues.
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7
Gratitude builds and sustains long term relationships. That's long term and reciprocal. What a wonderful tool for building sustained happiness. The prevalence of references towards gratitude in the Bible helps us understand the importance of having the tool and using it often. We shouldn’t forget to make our attempts effective, either. What good is a tool if we’re implementing it without proper thought and precision?
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
William Arthur Ward
Gratitude has the power to gain friends where once you may have gained an enemy. Using anecdotal experiences I have had making my writings public, I have encountered heated opposition to some ideas. This was expected, though I didn't expect it so soon.
On facing this pushback I have seen more often than not (and this happening isn't even very often yet, but it's still telling) if I repeat back what they were saying, in my own words, give credence to those words (if there is any), and thank them for the input, a follow up will come.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Psalm 28:7
This follow up has come across as less aggressive and more intelligible. The words they use are less likely to be accusatory or pointed, and they generalize more instead of accusing me personally of slighting them. After one or two more messages back and forth we can find common ground, assuming the first criterion are met.
He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.
This is not what I expected. This may be normal, but my success rate in having reasonable discourse was much lower prior to me adding an initial, and sincere, thank you to my replies. This is telling for me. I will revisit this after a reasonable amount of time passes where I can have enough of these interactions to truly establish a pattern.
I do not sit with deceitful men,
nor keep company with hypocrites.
I hate the mob of evildoers,
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence
that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,
to raise my voice in thanksgiving
and declare all Your wonderful works.
Psalm 26:4-7
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