Kindness ~ Doing Something

So we saw how patience is learning to do nothing when you are mistreated by others.  The next step after you have learned patience is to be kind.

Kindness always make me think of the new Cinderella movie.  That movie displays very well what it truly means to be kind.  I have to say, I was really impressed with the message since it's a Disney movie.

Okay, back to kindness.  First off, what is kindness.  Kindness is having a sincere desire for the well-being of others.  In other words, it's our awareness of the needs of others around us.  But, unlike patience, which does nothing, kindness plans to act.  Kindness looks at a situation and asks questions like; "Who needs love right now?" "How can I help this person?"  "Who can I say something nice to today?"

So we see that kindness is a state of the mind.  It is a matter of the heart.  It's our attitude toward how we view others.

You may be wondering how you can have this kind of heart attitude.  Here are some tips to help you cultivate kindness in your life.

Caring for others and paying attention to the needs of those around you will grow your love for others.  As will praying for others. Praying for others is such an amazing thing to do.  It is through praying for others that God turns your focus on yourself into concern for others.  

Thinking is also a part of kindness.  When you start to care about others you will start thinking of different ways you can help them. Purpose to think about others as you go about your day.

Another important aspect of kindness is noticing.  To often we choose to 'not see' the needs of those around us. But God has given us wonderful observing skills and God wants us to take note of others around us and of their needs.  

By caring for, thinking of, and noticing the needs of the people around us we are creating for ourselves a new attitude.  One that is full of kindness.  And you are then ready for the next step.

Are you beginning to see how patience and kindness fit together like a glove?  First we must have patience not to respond in a mean way and by not responding we are given the chance to take to heart and notice the needs of the person who has offended us.  Next is what I like to call kindness in action ~ goodness.  And that is the next fruit of the spirit.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:3-4

Note: I'm sorry if this post seems short or rushed, or if there are any typo's I failed to notice. This week I'm going to be very, very, busy and I really wanted to post something before the busyness starts.  So I wrote this post really quick.  

Movie Review ~ Cinderella

Don't you just love it when you get real excited over a movie and when you finally see it you are not disappointed at all. In fact, the movie ends up being a lot better than you thought it would be. Well, today I went to see Cinderella and that is exactly how I felt. I've been waiting for this movie for so long and it was worth the wait.  Cinderella, in my opinion, is a must see for anyone who loves romance, fairy tales, or even for someone who is simply looking for a worthwhile movie to watch for the weekend.  I may find myself taking another trip to the theater to see it again. It was that good.  :)

I would like to share with you my personal thoughts about this movie.  

The one word I have to describe this movie is: beautiful.  The fairy tale setting, the costumes, and everything else came together perfectly to really give you a warm feeling.   Ella was portrayed perfectly and I don't think Disney could have picked a better actor to play her part.  The story was close enough to the original animation to satisfy me but it also filled in many gaps and overall made more sense to me.  The best part for me was the nostalgic feeling that came over me as I watched Cinderella while thinking back to when I was a little girl and when Cinderella was my favorite movie.  That  feeling can't be beat.  Cinderella is a classic tale that will never grow old.  Plus the underlying message and moral of the story was very powerful. 

This movie has won a special place in my heart.    If you plan on seeing Cinderella your in for a real treat.  

"Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic."