Choosing Kindness over Rightness

I had become bitter, grumpy, angry and sad. I had chosen to allow pain to take root in my soul and let it flourish. I don’t think everyone saw that in me but I know my husband did. It was easy to be bitter and angry towards him because he deserved it. At least that was my reasoning during that painful season.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Perhaps I was right to be angry at him and aim my emotional darts straight for his soul, but God was faithful to remind me that I’m not called to be right. I’m called to be kind. Being kind often takes a back seat with people (like me) whose bent is to seek, and even demand, justice.

WHEN GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING
RIGHT OR BEING KIND, CHOOSE KIND.
― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

I sat motionless in that familiar corner of my sofa. Quiet and still on the outside but chaos ruminated on the inside. I stared out at the water through the wall of windows with a tear-clouded view – again. God and I had a chat. I asked him “why?” again. He gently spoke a loving light into my darkness. “Andrea, what has happened is awful. I know it doesn’t make sense to you and I know it’s not fair. You do have a right to be angry but this is not the person you are meant to be. And I know this is not the person you want to be.”

He was right. Of course.

Perhaps it is through a tear-clouded view that we can see most clearly.

There’s more…

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