With Kindness

 

Proverbs 11:17 (NET) - A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.

The temperature here has been over 100 degrees for many days.

A very old cat recently found a relatively cool spot near my door behind a bush.

One day, I opened the door to check my mail and I startled the poor old feline.

It stood up, arched its back and hissed at me in a very menacing way.

To be honest, I was more than a bit startled myself.

But rather than chase the animal away, I spoke to it in a soothing voice.

This ritual repeated itself day after day.

I would open the door and, as expected, the cat would bare its teeth and hiss at me.

I continued speaking to it in a soothing voice.

Days later, my small act of kindness was rewarded.

Now, the old cat looks at me and just goes back to sleep.

Scripture reminds us to be kind… to others.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NET) - You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

We are also to be kind to those less fortunate than ourselves,

Proverbs 14:31 (NET) - The one who oppresses the poor has insulted his Creator, but whoever honors him shows favor to the needy.

Christ stressed this point as well.

Matthew 25:40 (NET) - And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

If you think about it, it really costs nothing to be kind.

The more you practice kindness, the easier it becomes.

Even being kind to the smallest of God’s creation becomes part of our character.

The world in which we now live needs kindness, perhaps now more than ever.

Many are frightened by violence and the pandemic.

Many have lost loved ones.

So, be kind.

The seeds we choose to plant today will bear fruit tomorrow.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 21, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 28, 2020

 

Do Not Grow Weary

Matthew 7:12 (NET) - In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

As I get older, I find that the world is changing.

I was taught the above words by my parents when I was very young.

Other passages of scripture have different wording, but the meaning is the same.

Luke 6:31 (NET) - Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

The book of Galatians more closely resembles the wording found in Mark’s gospel.

Galatians 5:14 (NET) - For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

When I was young, we referred to this as the golden rule.

When my parents taught me this, their aim was to teach me love and kindness for others.

But they did not teach me with words only.

Their instruction also included examples.

They taught me to hold the door open for others.

They taught me to compliment others.

They provided many other examples as well.

To put it in the most basic of terms, what they taught me was to be kind.

They must have taught me well as I have done these things for a number of decades.

But now as I grow older, I see that the world is changing.

Holding the door open, especially for a lady, can now be considered sexist.

Even an innocent compliment meant to brighten someone’s day can easily be taken out of context.

Frankly, I never would have guessed when I was young that the world would have changed so much in my lifetime.

Be that as it may, I must continue to put into practice the lessons my parents instilled.

More importantly, I must do as Jesus instructed.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NET) - So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 7, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, September 14, 2018

Love Rather Than Fear

Not long ago there was a knock on my door.

I opened it and was quite surprised to find a group of children standing there.

Two of them I recognized as they live next door.

The others I did not know at all.

One thing that also caught my attention was the little girl who stood furthest away.

Unlike the other children, her expression was one of concern.

One of the children I knew well explained that they were playing and got their ball stuck in a tree.

I suppose one of the two who knew me thought. “Hey, we know somebody tall!”

So, the children escorted me to the tree in which the ball was stuck.

As we walked I noticed that the one little girl still looked concerned and kept well away.

When we arrived at the tree I spotted the ball.

As I reached for it, I asked one of the children if anything was wrong with the little girl.

I was informed that she was the one who threw the ball and got it stuck in the tree.

I was also told, “She’s afraid you are mad at her.”

My heart melted.

The moment my hand grabbed the ball the children began clamoring for it.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” I said as I tossed it to the frightened child who stood far away.

She caught it and her fear suddenly disappeared.

My reward was a beautiful smile.

Our relationship with God can be like that.

Whether we want to admit it or not, sometimes we fear God.

We think of Him as distant and unapproachable.

We convince ourselves that we should keep our distance from Him.

We might even convince ourselves that God will be very angry with us if we draw too near.

We think that He might be unforgiving.

How wrong we are.

If we only trust in God’s kindness, we should be willing to approach God and admit our misdeeds both to ourselves and Him.

Romans 2:4 (NET) - Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

We must count on God’s love for us.

That means others should be able to count on our love as well.

Even the smallest among us.

1 John 4:7-8 (NET) - Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 6, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, July 13, 2018

Rescued

This week our church hosted its annual Vacation Bible School.

Although primarily designed for children, we also provide a class for adults.

After all, education is important throughout our lives.

It was my pleasure and privilege to lead the adult class once again this year.

Months ago, I selected a personal favorite from my video library,

The Pilgrim’s Progress has always held a special place in my heart.

I have read Bunyan’s Christian allegory a number of times.

I have lost count as to the number of times I have watched the modern movie adaptation.

Every time I watch the movie or read the book, some particular element will resonate within me.

This time was no different.

What struck me this time was the fact that Jesus never turns anyone away.

When Christian, the main character, knocked at the gate he was admitted in.

The gatekeeper reminded him that no one is turned away no matter what their past sins may have been.

Evangelist, a major character, reminded Christian that every sin can be forgiven,

Then there was the character known as Hopeful.

Hopeful felt that his past sins were too great to be forgiven.

The words of Christ provided both comfort and forgiveness.

“Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”

Hopeful’s relief was apparent in his thoughts: “He was able to make the worst of sinners righteous before God.”

On the fourth evening, I formally dismissed my class of adults.

I went outdoors as I was curious to see what the children were learning.

I watched as a good friend of mine asked the children what happens when we “mess up”.

In a unified voice they shouted, “Jesus Rescues!”

He does indeed!

May we be as forgiving.

James 2:13 (NET) - For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 15, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, June 22, 2018

Lasting Impressions

July 20 was the 46^th anniversary of mankind's first landing on the moon.

There were a number of thoughts that crossed my mind as I considered this.

My first thought was about how young I was at the time.

I was a child during the “space race” when the United States and the Soviet Union competed to see who could put men on the moon and return them safely to earth.

My second thought was how excited I was when Apollo 11 launched.

I remember sitting in front of the television watching the news coverage.

I remember the countdown finally reaching zero and watching those enormous rocket engines firing up and how they lifted that huge rocket into space.

My thoughts then turned to the lunar landing and the exploration of the moon.

I remember anxiously awaiting Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon.

I also remember Buzz Aldrin following moments later and how they skipped around the surface of the moon.

It still amazes me that the astronauts were able to figure out that skipping was the best way get around in reduced gravity.

Then the time came for them to climb back into the lunar landing module and return home.

I also thought about the things they and every other astronaut that followed them left behind on the surface of the moon – footprints.

Because the moon has no atmosphere, those footprints will remain as long as there is a moon.

That struck me most of all,

Each of the men that walked on the moon left a set of impressions behind that will last practically forever.

You and I also leave impressions with everyone we meet and those impressions will last a very long time.

What kind of impressions do we leave?

Hopefully they will be of the kind Jesus commanded us to leave.

John 15:12 (NET) – My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved you.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 7, 2015.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 14, 2015

Pearls of Wisdom

This week marked what would have been my parents' wedding anniversary.

Dad passed away several decades ago.

Mom left this world several years ago.

I was looking at their wedding picture that was taken shortly after World War II.

How young they look in that photo.

As I studied the photograph, I found myself reflecting on the wisdom they shared with me as I grew up.

Of course there were lessons that they intentionally taught me.

That was part of their responsibility as parents.

Then there was the wisdom each imparted to me.

That was different because this they did by example and by the way each lived.

The wisdom I gained from Dad was that humor was an essential part of living.

Personally, I find a sense of humor often helps me get through my day and perhaps allows me to help others get through their day as well.

One thing I have discovered is that within every bit of humor there lies at least a grain of truth.

Scripture tells me that there are times when laughter is appropriate.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NET) – For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NET) – A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.

The wisdom I gained from Mom was in her gentleness.

By example, she showed me that gentleness was not a sign of weakness but a true hallmark of inner strength.

Scripture also bears that out.

James 3:17 (NET) – But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and not hypocritical.

Then, of course, I am also indebted to them for my faith.

Faith, when teamed with humor and gentleness can be quite powerful.

Perhaps the most powerful of ways is encouragement.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NET) – Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

Life sometimes presents us with challenges.

When they occur, I am grateful to Dad for helping me to always look for the humor in the situation.

Sometimes it is difficult to find, but I assure you it is there.

I am very grateful to Mom for helping me to be gentle with others and perhaps be a source of strength for them.

I am grateful to them both for the faith they instilled in me as was their charge.

Most of all, I thank God for them both and for showing me the wisdom of their ways.

What pearls of wisdom have you received from the special people God has placed in your life?

What can you do with them?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 20, 2013.

Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 27, 2013.