Wednesday 20 June 2012

Just A Little Kindness!


Hello my dear Friends!
Okay...I've tried starting this post three times...now I'm just going to spit it out! lol What has happened to KINDNESS?? As I was making my rounds of facebook, youtube and blogger I was so saddened to see how many people are dealing with hurt feelings because of mean comments people have left for them. There seems to be a trend going on these days. A trend of being unkind to each other. Have you seen it? How do you feel about it? I don't like it at all!
Then I went to my sweet friend Holly's blog and she had a wonderful quote about kindness (HERE). It said:

Always be a little kinder than necessary.
J.M. Barrie

Isn't that wonderful! By the way, I would encourage you to pop over and join Holly's blog, it's FABULOUS! Her posts are always short so they never take much time! lol Sometimes they are very thought provoking, and sometimes they are hilarious but they are always very encouraging! :o)
Anyways, after reading Holly's post I was inspired to create a post of my own about kindness. Of course, my favorite quotes always come from the Bible! 1 Thessalonians 5:15 says:

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, 
but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

The verse I used on my card is the first half of Ephesians 4:32. The entire verse says:

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, 
just as in Christ God forgave you!

I chose this verse because it really covers both ends of what I've seen. We are told to be kind. Since there are those that choose to be unkind...we are then told to be compassionate and forgiving. It certainly doesn't help the situation to be unkind back to someone who has been unkind to us. Perhaps we could maybe try to understand why they were being unkind in the first place. I think there are lots of very unhappy and hurting people in the world, and sometimes they just feel better if they lash out and make someone else feel a little bit of what they themselves are feeling. That can't be a fun way to live, can it? On the other hand, there are those that aren't even aware that they have been mean because they just don't know any better. Well, I say we should just start spreading as much kindness as we can and teach them better! I don't know how to do that other than by one act of kindness at a time; a smile :o), a kind comment, and an encouraging word! Oh, let's not forget forgiving the unkindness of those that don't know better! :o)
Hmmm...maybe we need to start a Kindness Challenge of some kind...


Papers: K & Company;
Image: Birdie Brown;
Prismacolor Pencils & OMS;
Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities, 
Punch: Martha Stewart;
Ink: Stampin' Up - Soft Suede;
Ribbon: Offray;
Brads: Unknown;
Sketch: A Die For A Sketch.


I used the sketch from A Die For A Sketch again because I think it's such a fun sketch. I turned it a quarter turn this time. Thank you so much to those of you who have linked up at our fun new Challenge blog! For those of you who haven't joined us yet there's still time to link up. There's a great prize up for grabs. You'll find a link in my sidebar or right HERE.

Linking Up to Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #33 HERE

26 comments:

Jennifer Scull said...

what a wonderful post - thank you!

it's never appropriate to be rude...goodness knows I mess up myself and am by no means perfect. but gosh, kindness DOES matter.

I've been on the receiving end of some of these emails and such in the past few weeks, and all I can say is that life is too short to be filled with such anger and hatred. sure, people hurt us; bad things happen that we don't deserve; sometimes life just isn't fair. but on the flip side, there is so much joy to behold and so many miracles waiting for us to grab ahold of every single day.

it's all a matter of where we CHOOSE to look - at the negative or the positive. to embrace joy is not easy. you have to work at it. but God really does help us when we try with an honest heart.

sharing kindness right along with you! and sending a great big hug! :)

Lacie Root said...

I love the post, you are right the kindness should be turned up. Thank you for the verse, Gods love can heal everything.

Karen Letchworth said...

What a fabulous and encouraging post. Thanks for sharing from your heart these truths that are just SO important, so true, and SO meaningful to us all. I appreciate when others share from the heart, not only their beautiful art, but what God is burdening their hearts with as you have done. What a blessing this is! Thanks for sharing with us in this week's challenge at Word Art Wednesday and for encouraging us in this way. Have a blessed week!
Karen L
Word Art Wednesday
P.S. I have blog candy on my blog at:
www.karen-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com

Tfriday said...

Oh wow, this really saddens me that people out there have to be so mean. Don't they have something better to do than to make someone sad and upset. It's just not worth anyone's time and effort to give in to people like this. I don't like it when people do that on Youtube. It doesn't make sense to me. Oh well, I guess it makes the world go round. IDK... Love your card, Nancy. He is so adorable. TFs... Hugs!

Marilyn said...

Great card Nancy and such a lovely post. You are so right about the kindness... I haven't seen the posts you mention but yes, I don't know why people do that. I think it's easier when we are at a keyboard and not face to face with a real person. Regardless, being mean and ugly towards others is never acceptable.

Unknown said...

Beautiful card and such a lovely image! Great coloring and colors! Hugs Willie

Anonymous said...

Nancy, this is a fantastic post!! The unkindness seems to go in cycles, just my own personal knowledge not a fact.

I'm thrilled you addressed this problem and you did it in your particular kind and loving manner. :-)

Your card is so cute. Now for an unkind remark from me. I'm so jealous! Your coloring technique is fabulous and that little guys pants look real. I'm still jealous :-)

Love you - Leslie

Susan M said...

A beautiful post Nancy! My son has had some unkind comments this week on some of his artwork he posted on Facebook.From another artist no less. It is difficult to get across to young people that we shouldn't retaliate but forgive and even pray for the person commenting.
Your card is beautiful! The image is so cute and coloured to perfection! Must get around to posting my last hymn and scripture challenge! Had a few computer problems.

Kreatives von Andrea said...

Hello my friend Nancy!

Your Card is so great and wonderful, what a beautiful coloring, i like it...

Now to your words of kindness to the people to each other ....

I think it's always very sad deal as some people have with each other and that too may find it myself ..... I have also separated by many people because they are very dishonest and hurting others with words.

Your verses tell the truth, even in German!

I wish you a pleasant evening, a very nice greeting from Andrea

PS: I hope you understand my english

alexandra s.m. said...

I don't understand and don't like rudeness at all either.
Why do they even bother leaving a comment in the first place? pffff...

Your card is adorable and so well constructed my Friend!

Well done!

Cindy Haffner said...

Your card is just DARLING!!~

--I don't know what is the matter people, I am sad for them that they are so mean, they must be very unhappy people!!~

Jonia said...

What a sweet card. I just love it and I love your mini lesson. We should always be kind to one another.

Holly said...

You made my day, girlfriend! Thank you! I think that you radiate kindness because I can feel it all the way down here in Colorado!
Blessings!
Holly

Geri said...

Love the project and the entire post...and I agree...you just never know where someone else is coming from, so we better spread it on thick just in case that someone is in need!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Tracy said...

Very well said sweetie. If more people practiced that old adage of "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all", the world would be a nicer place. Of course it would be even better if their hearts were right and the nasty thoughts weren't there to begin with. Thankfully I've only been the recipient of a couple on minorly snipy remarks, but I have seen some really ugly ones and have experienced the "didn't know better" kind too. I hate conflict of any kind especially when someone's feelings get hurt. Mean words are right up there on my pet peeve list. Thanks for the wonderful reminder that loving one another is our top priority.
Your coloring looks so awesome Nancy. your little guy is cute as he can be. Hugs and love wafting it's way to you. :-)

Noelle the dreamer said...

Stumbled on your blog (Thanks Holly!) and loved your honest post!
It is true we we forget to be kind much too often!
Your card is stunning!Will have to stop by again!
God bless,

Tlc Creations said...

What a beautifully sweet card....just because one sits behind a computer, annonymously expressing themselves....doesn't mean that their words can hurt very deeply. It is so much easier to be kind and let everything else go. I love that saying....be a little kinder than necessary....although I feel that it is always necessary to be kind.
Thank you for your post.
Paulette
TlcCreations

Tlc Creations said...

That should read........can't hurt very deeply.

Sandee Shanabrough said...

Precious card!

Torico said...

I love the post, and I'm so glad that you chose one of my digis to combine with the beautiful verse.
Thank you for sharing.

Dunja Trautmann said...

thank you my sweet friend for this brilliant take on the sketch, the cute litte boy with the flowers is awesome :) I love the wonderful Nancy-Style so much :)

Wish you a great start into the new week. Hope to hear from you soon.

Love & sweet Hugs
Dunja

P.S. Thank you for your sweet and lovely comments hun. Please tell me, why you love my last posted card so much? What the "aha"effect for you? *Kisses*

Dunja Trautmann said...

oh if forgot to say thank you for sharing from your heart these truths words!!!
God bless you my sweet friend

LOVE!!!

krcmasterpiece said...

What a great reminder-to be kind.It sounds so easy-but yet it's hard for some.

I love the boy with the flower. Offering kindness.

Thanks for playing with us @ Word Art Wednesday!

Holly said...

hi kind and wonderful Nancy! How are you doing today? Just stopping by to say "hello" and I'm thinking of you!
hugs!

Jennifer said...

Thank you so much Nancy for sharing God's view of this subject! May we continue to walk in His footsteps and follow His example!
I love this sweet card you've made! This little man is just adorable!

Robyn said...

As we continue to walk in God's Truths may we spark kindness in others as we speak kindness in all we do. Delivering even the necessary discipline, it is necessary to do it with loving kindness.
I recently resigned my FB page, largely because of the unkind, unnecessary words shared by so many. Guess what, I dont miss it at all!

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