Kindness

About a week ago I started something I have never done before with Grady. We are calling it a "kindness journal." In mothering, there will always be things you really love and admire about your children and then there are those things that you so desperately want to change or take away completely. Grady is a precious boy...but he definitely struggles with an antagonistic spirit. Now, I won't mention where he might have gotten this but let's just say that my loving husband told me in college once, "I only make fun of people that I like." :) Anyway, back to the point...KINDNESS! I told him that for the next month, I want him to think each day about kind things he can do for others and we will write them down each night. I did a little studying of my own to find Bible stories and verses that will help me reiterate the point and teach this important value to him. As I read one definition given, I thought to myself, wow maybe I need a kindness journal too! It said, "To be kind means "having or showing a tender, considerate and helping nature." Thus, one who is kind is friendly, generous, warmhearted, sympathetic, considerate, gentle, and affectionate." In today's world, we are all so inwardly focused or "bubble focused," as I like to call it, that we don't really think outside of our box as to what kindness we can show each day to others. Watching Grady's little face light up as we think of the things he did out of the kindness of his heart has been so exciting! I am praying that the Lord will work in a mighty way in his little heart this month and that he will see the joy in putting others before himself. Who knows, maybe it will take a whole lot longer than a month, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I am just praying and thanking God for putting it in my mind to make a real effort with him in this area of his life. He truly has a kind heart and I know he will love watching it shine more and more each day! And as usual, God loves to show me through my sons what I need to work on as well and I am thankful for that too even though I sure would like to ignore it sometimes. :) Hope everyone is having a great week!