Years ago, I sat in my office with a mom and her daughter.  They were there for court-ordered counseling.  In the midst of the session, they began to yell at each other;  they began to be unkind to each other, that unkindness we save for those we love, the kind with it’s own unique kind of violence.

 I had a call later that same day from one of my own family who was upset with another family member so was saying all sorts of unkind things about this person they loved.  

As I listened to these people, the question came to me:

Why are we surprised there is such unkindness in the world if, indeed, we cannot even be kind in our own homes?   Why is it surprising that the members of our government cannot get along?  Why is it surprising that the nations of the world cannot get along?

Why is any of that surprising when people sitting across the same table each night, maybe even sleeping in the same bed each night, cannot get along?

I realize this may seem too simple of an answer to deal with our nation and our world today but is it too simple of an answer to deal with in your house?

To. Just. Be. Kind.

Why is it so hard?

 "The hurt that troubled children create is never greater than the hurt they feel".

Reread that.

I believe that is true of all of us.  If I hurt you, it comes from my hurt.

And when I hurt, I do not WANT to be kind.

So, I am UNkind and then YOU are hurt and YOU are UNkind.

And so it goes.

And children watching all that UNkindness become "troubled children" who create hurt.

So they are UNkind and, in turn, we usually treat them UNkindly.

And so it goes.

ONE BIG OL' UNKIND WORLD.

Makes me sad.

So, I am challenging myself to BE KIND this week.

Seems like the best place to start.

With my own heart.