Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
When I began reading today's chapter, I started to get a little nervous. Would this be one of the challenges that I couldn't come up with something to do? Would the distance pose a problem for the first time with the dare challenge so soon? As I continued reading the book pointed out that doing something kind toward your children is not the only way to show them kindness. "Love leads you to look for opportunities to show kindness to your kids. This doesn't mean doing everything for them. Rather, it's the fine balance between loving them well and teaching them to love others. Part of their becoming an effective parent or leader as an adult is in developing the heart of a servant as a youth - the heart they should see in you."
Reading that I was still unsure of what the dare would be and how to do it, but as I read the last paragraph ("As you show and encourage kindness in your children, you are investing in the type of heart God calls us to nurture. It's the Golden Rule....It's the blessing of kindness. And that's the beauty of how true love takes action.") I came up with an idea.
I asked Allie to draw Jordan a picture. I didn't give her any instructions other than that. I wanted to see what she'd come up with. She asked "Does he like cats"? I told her he does (since they have a cat too) and she drew this for him. She asked me how to spell "Jordan" but sounded out "brother"... b-r-u-d-r. Too cute. I sent him a text with the picture and told him that we talk about him all the time and that Allie misses him. Since the dare was to do something kind for him and also have him do something kind for someone else, I called my mom and she agreed to help and have Jordan look for something he can pick out for Allie. This may be more of a challenge for him than for me, but I'm looking forward to seeing what he thinks of, no matter what it is.
My prayer for Jordan today.
Lord, I just want to ask that you pour out your kindness on Jordan this week. I pray that in the action of Allie drawing him a picture, it will spark the desire to be kind to her in his heart. I pray that he will know that we think of him daily and care for him. I thank you Lord, for giving us a desire to have a kind heart because of the kindness you show us. Thank you Jesus!
"Kindness is love in action. It rejects passivity and reaches out. It takes time to listen, then takes steps to help. It never requires the easiest path or simplest method to engage in the lives of others."
Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness. (Hosea10:12)
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