Kindness wins

Isaiah 57:4 “Whom do you ridicule? Against whom do you make a wide mouth and stick out the tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood?”

Kindness comes rarely in this crazy world we live in. Our society seems to think that belittling someone is an art form and is great fun. It happens in politics, in the workplace, in parking lots, in shopping places, at home and at school. It’s become a way of life in America. But there is a better way.

Note Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” A loving and kind “soft answer” can heal the soul, and America needs the healing of its soul. The following true story illustrates this truth.

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. “You’ve got so many freckles, there’s no place to paint!” a girl in the line said to the little fella. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.

His grandmother knelt down next to him. “I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles,” she said, while tracing her finger across the child’s cheek. “Freckles are beautiful!”

The boy looked up, “Really?”

“Of course,” said the grandmother. “Why just name me one thing that’s more beautiful than freckles.”

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma’s face, and softly whispered, “Wrinkles.” (Ahhhh! A soft answer!)

Editor’s note: Jim Duncan is the pastor of Mountain Bible Church, Mountain, Mo. He may be contacted at P.O. Box 146, Pea Ridge, AR 72751; or by telephone at 417-341-8504; by e-mail at james.ahscrolls@wildblue.net. His Web site is www.jamesduncan-writer.net.