A long time ago, I found a book, that I believe is out of print now, called A short course in Kindness by Margot Silk Forrest.  I picked it up at the diminutive but spiritually charged bookstore at Unity Church in Tustin.  Its subtitle describes the contents, “ a little book on the importance of love and the relative unimportance of just about everything else.”

Like A Course in Miracles, any book written by its followers like Dr. Gerald Jampolsky who wrote Forgiveness: The Greatest Healer of All and Love is Letting Go of Fear or Marianne Williamson, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Buddha’s teachings, Jesus’s sermons, any religions’ core, Greek, ancient, pagan and native philosophy…the message is foundational, clear and the same…Love is the answer, the purpose and the journey.

I thought about this today, as I ruminated over my own and other people’s actions.  There is nothing wrong with taking an inventory once in awhile.

When I am kind, I feel I have done the right thing – even when the reaction is not what is expected.  To have the correct attitude of kindness benefits me.  And, first, I need to learn to be kind to self.  Then, I know how to be kind to you.

Whenever someone else is unkind, I get the opportunity to ask if something else is going on?  Maybe they are uncomfortable in their own skin somehow.  That thought breeds compassion, for how unfortunate for them, I think.

That doesn’t mean I have to hang around them, put myself in their path or even approve of their behavior.  But I accept that this is so, I do not take it personally, I get to say a silent prayer for their healing and move on.  And when I find I have been unkind, I get to look at what is underneath and really behind my snarky, bitter or snappy behavior and come to terms with it and quickly and (wholeheartedly knowing why) – apologize for it.

 “ Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.”  – Theodore Isaac Rubin

“ Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless.” – Mother Teresa

“ Kindness heals, forgives and exudes love.” – Cecilia

Benevolence and Goodness come from that soft place in your heart.  It is a vulnerable spot.  But when you reach in, find this power full of grace, embody its meaning and generously give it away…you find peace, you feel rewarded and full, you engender more of it and you get that overwhelming emotion and sensation of abundance and gratitude for your very breath of life.

“ Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Notice the string of events and connect the dots as you practice kindness and you will see miracles in your Universe.  I know.  I have witnessed many such wonders and have been given many opportunities to practice what was freely given to me, over and over again.

Kindness is just a choice to respond with love.

Next time you open your mouth or send a text, email or letter – ask yourself three questions:  Is it true?  Is it necessary?  Is it kind?