Kindness part 2
We're all basically the same. We're all just people. But at the same time we are all completely unique. Totally and utterly different. There's no one in the world just like me, or just like you. And that means even though we are all going through the same thing--the human existence--we all go through it differently. Things that bother me might not bother you, and vice versa. So if I try to apply how I feel about something to how you should feel about it... that's the opposite of empathy. That's not me being selfless, that's me being selfish. That's me being unkind. Remember yesterday we saw that "kindess" means "useful." And if I'm trying to prove that I'm right and you're wrong... that's not useful. That doesn't help anybody. And that got me to thinking about Matthew 16:24, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Now I've gone on record a bunch of times saying I don't think we are supposed to deny ourselves in the sense to rejecting who we are and trying to be someone we're not. And I don't think it's "our" cross that we need to take up, until we understand that HIS cross IS our cross. And when that happens we truly come after Him, or follow Him, by letting Him walk in our feet. But when I was thinking about acts of kindness I was thinking about literally denying ourselves. Saying, "What YOU want is more important that what I want." Esteeming others higher than ourselves. But, like I was trying to say yesterday, I think that can be one of the hardest things to do. I think the two hardest things in the universe are: 1. Doing something we don't want to do. And 2. Not doing something we do want to do. And I don't REALLY think that's even possible... but God. I don't think it's possible to deny yourself... unless you're in love. And I'm not talking about romantic love. I'm talking about dwelling in love. I'm talking about being so in love with LIFE--because your life is so full of love--that everything else pales in comparision. I'm talking about giving everything you are and everything you have for somebody else. Not because you expect to get anything back, but simply because you have what they need and are willing to share it. Simply because you love them. And I'm telling you, it is only possible TO love when you know that you ARE loved. You can't give what you don't have, right? And you can only give what you do have. So it all comes down to knowing and believing the love of Christ. A disciple--which is who Jesus was talking to in Matthew 16:24--is a student of love. Learning how to love, by learning how Daddy loves us. Receiving God's love, and then releasing it by letting it fill us to overflowing. And then denying yourself becomes easy. Because then you know you already have everything you need. And if you already have everything you need you don't need anything from anybody. (Makes sense, right?) So then you can give THEM what THEY need. You can be kind. All of the time. To everybody. Because you're not on your guard. Because you know you're safe, no matter what. Daddy's got your back. He is your source and your supply. An abundant supply! So you can share what you've got. You can give people what they need. Even if it flies in the face of what you want. Remember the old song? "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." We have what we need! Now we can share it with others!