I saw this incredible piece of writing online recently:

“Kindness: the ammunition of the greats. Kindness comes from the deepest confidence that offering something beyond yourself will help someone – regardless of its impact on you; trust is much like this. In a culture so focused on the self, acts of kindness – small as they might be – are often held in high regard. After struggling through depression and reeling from the lasting effects of an abusive childhood, I see kindness as a weapon I arm myself with on a daily basis, running low on munitions or not…

One small step at a time, we need to change how we as individuals respond to both the good and the bad occurrences in the world…

…. Don’t run around in circles upset and confused like a skill-less skipper with a bunch of knotted rope. In order to untie it you can’t just pull haphazardly on different ends hoping something works out! Kindness is the same way, in order to address it in the world, we have to practice is, not just by talking but also by way of action…”

– @1924us

I read this the other day and it got me thinking about something interesting that happened in my life recently.

I’m a musician, and like some musician’s do, I sometimes play for other people’s projects or gigs. Not too long ago, I agreed to play for a fellow colleague of mine who is releasing quite a large and complicated body of work. He wanted to work through a ton of things with us, his band, and so it meant a whole lot of rehearsing. Or at least, rehearsing weekly – which is a lot if you’re busy.

The band was not solely made up of creatives, but also people who work day jobs. One of my new band members had just started a new job and was increasingly showing his irritation at me – when I talked, when I laughed… whatever I did, basically. It always ends up a bit crazy when you’re the only female in a band – especially if you love to talk.

He is extremely forthright, but does not know me as well as the other members of the band and so did not express his issue with me to my face.

It ended up being addressed in a way that wasn’t exactly the best, and as a result it became a running joke in the band. I was slightly upset that I wasn’t confronted about the matter, but left it and worked to improve my performance in the band and kept my mouth more.

A little time later, in a rehearsal break, I sat down to talk to the “unhappy camper”, asking him how he was faring at life. I wanted to know if he felt less strain now that he was getting into the rhythm of his new job.

After a while the conversation turned to me. He asked me a few questions about my own life. While I was talking, he stopped me.
“Why are you always so happy then? You have so much on your plate and there’s so much going on for you but you always have a smile on your face, are you never tired?”

Unbeknown to the rest of the group, just getting to the rehearsals was a stretch for me, and I was really fighting for joy during the time. I had encountered a huge transition period in my life and juggling work, family, schooling and a whole lot more. And I may have been wrong in how I handled part of the situation, but here’s the thing: I had made a decision that no matter what I was going through in life, other people were not to blame for what I was feeling inside. It is my baby – I need to work it out, I need to ooze kindness because one never knows what others are going through. Not only that, but as Christians – even though we may have down times – Jesus ultimately gave us the ability (when he invited us into relationship with him) to overflow at all times: Overflow grace, goodness, kindness, love, joy, and peace. The Bible says that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45) and recently, that just hit home for me!

Whatever we fill ourselves up with comes out of us when we are prodded. One cannot live in disguise for too long. Sooner or later, it comes out, and tough times are the perfect “prodders”.

“Jesus handled inconveniences with perfection because he was always full to overflowing. He graciously welcomes people, healed the sick, and taught about the kingdom. When he had moments alone He used them to connect with his Father. His batteries were always charged.” – Brian Johnson

Look, friend! We know these things! We do! We just need to practice them! We need to practice spending time with Jesus so that we can practice living out our trials with grace and joy. We must not only practice this, but fight for it.

The devil understands that getting us distracted is the best way for us not to end up spending the needed time with Jesus! If we can get this right, and we can overflow with kindness when we are prodded, we can most assuredly increase our capacity and God can not only hand us more, but we can be a greater blessing and testimony to the people around us.

“Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them… Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts – these are poison. Instead, be kind and compassionate. Graciously forgive one another just as God has forgiven you through the Anointed, our Liberating King.” Ephesians 4:29-32 (The Voice)

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