As a teacher, I cannot count how many times I have said, “JUST BE NICE!”  And, in all honesty, it probably wasn’t always said in the nicest way. 

We all are constantly reminded to be kind.

We see it everywhere.

T-shirts.  Signs.  Memes.  Cards. Books.

We hear it all the time. 

Be Kind.

One act of kindness is never wasted. 

If you can be anything BE KIND.

Kind people are my kind of people.

But, how are we doing as far as DOING it?

How intentional are we?

Some people seem to be naturally kind.  They build us up. They show us they care. I am grateful for these people.  I love being around these people.  I want to be more like these people.

But then life gets in the way.  I’m thinking about what I have to get done.  I’m thinking about my family.  My job. My responsibilities.  Then sometimes, it’s my opinions, my beliefs, my wants, my ideas, my feelings.

It’s not that I don’t want to be kind; it’s just that maybe I’m not. 

I like to think that “mean, old Mrs. James” might be a little nicer, a little more kind these days.  I like to think that I try to be more intentional.  We know that we are called to be more like Jesus.  Live by the Great Commandment.  I just sometimes need a reminder.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-44 (NIV)

So, if you are like me and need a reminder, I want to challenge those of you reading this today:  Be intentional.  What are you doing today to be kind?  Make that phone call or send that text.  Do that thing.  Buy that gift. Make that donation.  Reach out to a friend or do something anonymously.  Smile at a stranger.  Just be nice.

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)