Kindness

Oh, how we need kindness in our world!

Kindness = The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate; treating others with respect.

Kind heartedness

Loving-kindness

Warm heartedness

Tender heartedness

Goodwill

Affection

Warmth

Gentleness

"One who is kind and sympathetic and gentle with others. He is considerate of others feelings and courteous in his behavior. He has a helpful nature. Kindness pardons other's weaknesses and faults. Kindness extends to all - to the aged and the young, to animals, to those of low station as well as the high." Benson

You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force. 

Publius Syrus

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. 

The Dalai Lama

Kindness - it cost nothing but means everything.

Kindness begins with me.

Throw kindness around like confetti.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Kind people are the best kind.

"Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have ever known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends." Joseph B. Wirthlin

The world needs kindness more than ever. The anonymity people feel on social media has given them permission to be rude and unkind. It's not just enmity. Look at the President's tweets. There is just a freedom online to say whatever you are thinking because there's no person in front of you whose reaction you can see.

It's just like we are living Ender's Game. (Book by Orson Scott Card) It feels like we're just playing a game while we cause real hurt and damage.

Kindness is an amazing concept. It doesn't depend on feelings. We don't have to love someone in order to be kind. Kindness is a choice we make. It is a reflection of who we are.

The act of being kind has the power to change us. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 107: 30-31 it reads:

"The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, and holiness, and lowliness of heart, patience and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord."

To me "kindness" is the overarching concept - all the others virtues quoted in verse 30 are qualities of one who is kind. No wonder the scriptures speak of the Lord and his loving-kindness. And no wonder Paul and his beautiful discourse on charity reminded us that  "charity is kind."

I would love to watch a political debate done under a huge sign that read "speak kindly." The moderators would stop any candidate who spoke unkindly and ask them to rephrase that thought in a more respectful way. Just imagine what that model would say to the world!

If a principal is true then it applies universally. Kindness needs to be lived in every aspect of our lives. As the Dalai Lama taught "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

In a world where you can be anything, be kind!

If you haven't discovered the Kindness Diaries, you can watch them on BYU TV or on Netflix.  It's a good place to remind yourself what kindness looks like and ask yourself if you would show kindness to a stranger who need a place to stay for the night, a meal, or a tankful of gas.