Lenten Thoughts - Mercy for Everyone

What2Say2Day? Today's devotional reading comes from Luke 6:32-36.

 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

I've read this passage at least 100 times and until now I've never noticed the word "kind". The more I think about it I can see that's what mercy is, another form of kindness. For fun I looked up a few synonyms for kind and I came up with words like gracious, compassionate, and sympathetic. I then started to think when the last time was that I wished I had been more kind to others.

I can honestly say I show kindness to just about everyone I know. So the challenge for me this Lent is to go outside my circle of friends and acquaintances to find others to be kind to. The passage from Luke reminds me that it's not good to just show compassion to those who can return the favor but that I need to show the same type of love to those who are most likely unable to give it back to me.

I also don't want this to be something I do only once or once in a while. Relationships are my primary focus this Lent. I am going to make every effort to start and continue a relationship based solely on wanting to be a friend; even if that friendship will not be returned.

The other day I was feeling tired. Exhaustion was settling in and I didn't see it coming. One of the youth I work with came up to me and sincerely asked me how I was doing. Instead of the normal response of "I'm good, thanks" I could tell by the look in her eye she wanted to honestly know how I was doing. I told her the truth, that I was tired and not feeling so good. She punched my arm and told me I better get some rest because there are a lot of people who need me around.

This is not a student whom I consider to be someone I talk with a lot beyond the hellos of  everyday passage. On that day I was shown kindness by someone outside of my circle of acquaintances. On that day I was a witness to the love of God given to us through the Christ in others. My prayer is to be more like that.