4 BE KIND TO YOUR MATE

“What is the number one advice you would give to couples in marriage counseling?” I asked Dr. Wayne Oates, the renowned marriage counselor and prolific author.

Without a pause, the sage replied, “Be kind to one another.” It sounded too simple. But reality is that kindness is the last thing on an angry couple’s mind. Too often they want to hurt one another to repay the hurt they have received from their mate’s words or acts of unkindness.

Kindness involves caring for the other person more than yourself. Kindness chooses to speak life instead of death. Kindness finds a way to forgive instead of blame. Kindness expresses affirmation instead of condemnation.

Kindness becomes very difficult when one has negative feelings toward a mate. But kindness helps defuse the pain and begins to rebuild and restore the love in a relationship.

What was the last kind thing you did to let your mate know that you esteemed her beyond yourself? How soon will you express kindness again?

Try this: Bring home some fresh flowers. It’s a Jewish custom to celebrate the beginning of the Sabbath on Friday evenings with flowers on the dinner table. Make it a practice each Friday.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Eph. 4:32