In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse (children, coworkers) again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
Given that I normally update this blog just once a week on Wednesdays, keeping up with KLOVE‘s Love Dare is going to be a challenge. But…I’m going to try. I encourage you to visit the KLOVE blog site daily for your own daily dare, and I’ll try to talk about it here as well.
So…how did the first day go? Were you patient in your relationships?
Random Acts of Kindness
Today’s dare will be easier for me. (I think.) I enjoy performing random acts of kindness routinely – especially for strangers. I love to watch their reaction, which is typically complete amazement that a complete stranger would take the time to do something kind for them.
What random acts of kindness will you do today?
Kindness to My Family
Now, while performing random of acts of kindness to complete strangers is easy for me, remembering to speak kindly to my family is a bit more of a struggle. It should be the opposite, don’t you think? I guess the reason it’s not is that we know our family. We know their quirks and the crazy things that drive us nuts. We’ve never met the stranger; so nothing about them bugs us.
Right, okay, so here’s what the challenge has to say about kindness:
Gentleness. When you’re operating from kindness, you’re careful how you treat your spouse, never being unnecessarily harsh. You’re sensitive. Tender. Even if you need to say hard things, you’ll bend over backwards to make your rebuke or challenge as easy to hear as possible. You speak the truth in love.
Hmmm…think I’m guilty of not doing this. It takes time, and I always feel “too busy” to be nice. Okay…time to stop and think before speaking.
Helpfulness. Being kind means you meet the needs of the moment. If it’s housework, you get busy. A listening ear? You give it. Kindness graces a wife with the ability to serve her husband without worrying about her rights. Kindness makes a husband curious to discover what his wife needs, then motivates him to be the one who steps up and ensures those needs are met—even if his are put on hold.
Oh boy. Really? Serve my husband/family without worrying about my rights? Fairness is a big thing with me, and if I feel as though I’m being treated unfairly or having to do more than my share, I get grumpy. Fast. This is going to be a challenge.
Willingness. Kindness inspires you to be agreeable. Instead of being obstinate, reluctant, or stubborn, you cooperate, you stay flexible. Rather than complaining and making excuses, you look for reasons to compromise and accommodate. A kind husband ends thousands of potential arguments by his willingness to listen first rather than demand his way.
Hah! Have you met me? If so, you’ll know that I’m never stubborn…or obstinate. Riiiight.
Initiative. Kindness thinks ahead, then takes the first step. It doesn’t sit around waiting to be prompted or coerced before getting off the couch. The kind husband or wife will be the one who greets first, smiles first, serves first, and forgives first. They don’t require the other to get his or her act together before showing love. When acting from kindness, you see the need, then make your move. First.
Okay, people. Time to be kind. Let me know how it goes!
Image credit: Leticia Wilson
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