I was driving past the Channahon Jr. High School this morning, and this was what was posted on the sign:

Be kind, work hard and amazing things will happen!

This school is known for its witty sign quotes that change weekly. Normally they reference the author but today it was just the quote. It makes me wonder who uttered those words. I think this quote is great! But I’d like to make a modification to it. Instead, I’d like to suggest:

Work hard at being kind and amazing things will happen!

That’s changes things, doesn’t it? I don’t know about you, but it is hard work to be kind. Since the pandemic I have avoided going into stores as much as possible. We recently purchased a COSTCO membership, so I had to go to the store to get my card. So, we shopped… or at least tried to shop. I couldn’t believe how rude and selfish the other shoppers were! I was travelling down an aisle on the right side looking for a product and a guy literally hit me head on! Then without apologizing he parked his cart in the middle of the aisle sideways and no one could get down the aisle. So, sometimes it is a big effort to be kind. Sometimes the people we’re around make it difficult like my shopping experience. But sometimes I just don’t feel like being kind. I’d rather just keep to myself, get what needs to be done, and get myself home. Either way, it takes hard work.

So how do we overcome those things and be kind? Well, first the rest of that sentence says, “amazing things will happen!” And that’s so true. The fact of the matter it might not be what the impact of being kind does for others, but what it does for us!  The second thing is we have the perfect example in God. God showed the world how to love when people are unlovable. Kindness is just an extension of that. Plus, we have God the Holy Spirit within us to give us strength when it’s very hard work.

So, work hard at being kind and amazing things will happen!

See you Sunday!