Last article, we focused on loving yourself by being patient. This article is going to focus on being kind to yourself. How do you show kindness to others? Do you hold the door open going into a store for someone walking behind you? Do you help your spouse with making sure their day goes smoothly? Do you help the little old lady at the store reach the jelly on the top shelf? I’m sure you do all those things. I’ve found that most people are kind to each other. Sure, you run into a jerk every now and then, but most of the time, people are kind.
Are you kind to yourself or are you a jerk? Becoming aware of how I treat myself has forced me to realize that I am not kind to myself at all. I am constantly making a disparaging joke at my expense or using internal dialogue that belittles and hurts my own feelings. I am slamming the door in my own face. For example, just this past week, I described myself as a hippopotamus to my husband; I felt like a large blobby creature. He stopped me before I had the chance to tear myself down further. Then I realized just how unkind that was to say. I wouldn’t say that to someone else, so why would I say that to myself?
It takes little to no effort to be kind. I am sure that I am not the only one who has negative dialogue running through their mind telling them that they aren’t good enough, that they aren’t pretty enough, that they simply just aren’t enough. Proverbs 11:17 says, “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.” Being cruel to yourself, or others, will make you a miserable person.
Showing ourselves kindness will not only make you a happier person, but it is a crucial part to your spiritual growth. When you are constantly unkind to yourself, you become anxious and weary. Proverbs 12:25 tell us that, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Being kind to yourself will give you peace of mind and will make you a happier person.
God tells us in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” If we are God’s chosen people we are called to be clothed with kindness! Not only to others, but also to ourselves. We can’t truly be kind to others if we can’t do the same thing for ourselves. It becomes just a shell, just a front, not a true picture of self.
Over the years, unkind thoughts and words have torn holes in our souls, but God tells us how we can mend ourselves and in return mend others. “From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:23-24. It is healthy for us to be kind to ourselves, and being a healthier person, physically, mentally, and spiritually, is the ultimate goal.
Let’s make an effort to be kind to ourselves. Give yourself the grace to make mistakes, and it will still be okay! I have been more patient with myself these last few weeks and to start myself on the road to kindness, I am going to make an effort to say something kind about myself, to myself, every day. It can be something as simple as complimenting the way I make a cup of coffee to the way I support my spouse’s dreams.
So, like the old slogan, “Be Kind, Rewind,” let’s be start being kind to ourselves and rewind those negative thoughts — start fresh, from the beginning, with yourself.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
This week’s recipe is kind and healthy, but most importantly delicious! It is a warm and cozy soup, perfect for the cold February nights. It is a kid and husband pleaser, sure to stick to your ribs. As always, feel free to change the veggies up to ones that your family will love. You can even use frozen meatballs in a pinch. That’s the beautiful thing about cooking, you can make any recipe your own! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
April 19, 2024
