Treat others with kindness

Ephesians 4:32

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

We often forget that life follows a pattern where things tend to repeat themselves quite regularly. The sum total of our experiences is something others have previously dealt with and vice versa. So when advice is proffered, people tend to do it on the basis of things they would have experienced before.

I have noticed that it’s often easy to be nasty and outright horrible to people. If you hold a high office or a position of influence, you make it a mission for those lower down the pecking order to feel your importance. Sometimes people go out of their way to be horrible, all in a bid to exert influence and to be felt.

Even in our personal lives sometimes people are just difficult and burdensome on others. We tend to work on the premise that life is a constant and what is will always be.

We are all bound by a duty to be kind, good-hearted individuals who care for other people. When we sway from this we must remember the person we wrong, trample on or abuse will one day be something. Today’s circumstances are not tomorrow’s realities.

The person you hold in contempt today is probably the very same person you will need tomorrow. I have often seen that in the circle of life, God has the remarkable power to raise or lower whoever He deems fit.

So that person you are belittling and disrespecting today; the Lord could be doing a mighty work of quietly lifting him. Before you know it the “nobody” has become somebody and the circumstances have been altered.

Not long ago I knew a person who was being abused at his place of employment. For many years he was down trodden and was being put down at every turn. As life would have it, the tables were turned and he became the boss. Imagine the shame of his colleagues who, not long ago, had made him feel as if he was worthless.

The Lord and the Lord alone determines the fortunes of His people. We can become street doctors and diagnose and conclude but only the Lord can confirm.

So many people have been wronged by people who are more powerful than them, who believe that life will always be the same and that the status quo will never change. Things change all the time and one of the greatest lessons one can ever learn is to always treat others properly.

The Lord intended that we all be brothers and sisters and always show love for one another. This world has changed the ideals set by our maker, we have perverted what was meant to be beautiful. We all have a responsibility to show kindness to those around us, as much as it may be difficult and as much as it may go against our natural desires, we must at all times remember that the fortunes of man are dictated by God.

Make it a point to ensure that you treat everyone fairly, with respect and kindness. Remember that you do not know what tomorrow may hold. May the Lord grant you the foresight and the wisdom.

Be blessed.

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