Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32
Playing referee to my arguing kids was one of the hardest things for me to manage as a mom! Ephesians 4:32 was probably my most quoted verse on a day to day basis. I wondered if my kids would ever actually like each other! It is fun for my husband and I to be on the other side now as empty nesters and see how much our kids enjoy being together. They hang out with each other and even vacation together—with & without us!
I tried to impress on my kids that everyone is going through hard things and we don’t know what is happening in their lives, so we can show God’s love by how we respond even when others are difficult to love or have hurt us. Our responses and reactions matter.
A friend told me once that someone should feel better about themselves after being around you. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 compliments that by saying, “ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” It has been a joy for me to see my kids go out of their way to show kindness to someone who was being ignored or mistreated. One of our girls stood up for a childhood friend who was being bullied in school. It was amazing to see how kindness changed the heart of one of these girls and she thanked our daughter for making her aware of how she was acting in an unkind way. Maybe our kids actually do hear us!
On my office wall at work, I have a large print of Ephesians 4:32 as a daily reminder to be kind and to forgive because I have been forgiven much. Whether I was:
a teenager choosing to sit next to a young girl at my brothers’ basketball games because she looked lonely
working as a nurse in the PICU, taking care of children and families that were going through the hardest days of their lives and needing an extra measure of gentleness
navigating sibling rivalry with my kids
teaching sweet middle school girls on Sunday mornings
trying to have patience & kindness as an attitude at my job
helping our parents as they have surgeries and need a little more care
No matter what season in life I have been in, I find myself asking God to help me choose to treat everyone with kindness, goodness and gentleness, and to show me where I can forgive and serve others. This is what brings true joy—remembering Jesus’s steadfast love & faithfulness to me and honoring Him by serving others.
Who do you know that could use a little extra goodness and gentleness this week?
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Meet the author!
Laura Romero is the wife to Mike Romero & Mom/Mom-in-Law to Aaron & Hannah, Anna & Riley, Emily & Andrew & dog mom to Finley! She works currently as the Office Manager at Oakdale Baptist Church. She loves to spend time with her family & travel with her husband. She & her family have been attending Council Road for over 15 years & she has taught Sunday School to middle school girls for over 11 years.