Be Ye Kind

Ephesians 4:31-32.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

What a concept.  Why is it that we tend to be impatient, unforgiving, and quick to judge people?

Because these things cause bitterness and more misery among the people of the earth.  This is the goal of satan "for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27).  The negative attributes seem to be some of the main causes of war, hurt feelings, and damaged relationships.  They abound everywhere from the mainstream media, to politics, to our neighbors, and sadly, sometimes to our own families.  

What can we do to squash this contention from our own lives?  The answer was already given.  Vs 32 says: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  It's not complicated.  It's not elaborate.  It's simple.  It's difficult, but it's clear and simple.  Don't revile back at those who revile us.  Be kind to them.  Pray for them, seek to serve them, and forgive them.  Forgiving is a difficult thing to do.  We may say we forgive them, but how do we really know when we have finally rooted bitterness from our hearts towards somebody who has wronged us?  We'll just know.  Instead of anger, malice, evil speaking, clamour, wrath, and bitterness, we will want to be kind, tenderhearted, and we'll want to forgive!  We will desire their happiness and welfare! (Mosiah 28:3)  

May we all have the humility and grace from God to recognize who we need to forgive, and begin to serve them is my hope.