Be Kinder

I always seem to be running a bit behind. Your wedding gift?  I'll try to get it to you before you have your first child. Graduation? Maybe you'll get your gift before you leave for college. 

So a graduation speech right before school starts? Perfect for me.

George Saunders, an author, spoke to the graduates at Syracuse University back in May. His main point? Be kinder.

"So here's something I know to be true, although it's a little corny, and I don't know quite what to do with it:

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.

Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering and I responded...sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly....It's a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I'd say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder."

And later:

"Err on the side of kindness."

Such a simple truth, but one that will change the world.

And I actually think we might have heard that somewhere before.

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

"Love is patient and kind..." 1Corinthians 13:4

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..."  Colossians 3:12

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23