"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 ESVP)

"A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." (Proverbs 11:17 ESV)

Have you ever heard the phrase "Try a little kindness?" Or what about "Kill them with kindness?" Oh, I don't mean to actually kill them but be extra kind to them.

I can testify that a kind word or gesture goes a long way.

Quite awhile ago, when I was running on the ambulance, one of the members decided she didn't like me. She went around town bad mouthing me and telling lies about me. It made me so uncomfortable that I pretty much stayed home except for work. 

A year or so after she started her smear campaign, her oldest son committed suicide. I debated on whether or not to send a sympathy card. I did. It wasn't long afterward that I ran into her in Walmart. She was very friendly. In fact, she initiated the conversation. So a friendly gesture stopped the negativity from her. We still talk when we run into each other.

How do you react when your spouse or kids are in a foul mood? What do you do when you are under fire from their bad moods? Do you fire back? Most of us do. It's human nature to protect ourselves. 

How about trying this? Try saying please and thank you. Try being nice to them. When you catch the brunt of someone's bad mood, smile and speak gently to them. A kind word or action goes a long way. 

I saw an article on Facebook the other day. A child was having a meltdown in the school hallway. The security guard got down on the floor with him. Sometimes just being there quietly is all someone needs. 

So show some kindness today. Give a smile to someone who needs one. You never know how far that smile may reach. They, in turn, may give it to someone else who needs one. And so on and so on and.....

Kathy Keller