Day 2: Love is kind

Daily Reading

"Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts... kindness is how love acts."

I like that.

Kindness is defined as gentleness, helpfulness, willingness, and initiative.

Gentleness- being mindful of how you treat your spouse, choosing to be sensitive to the recipient of your words and actions.

Helpfulness- meeting the needs of the moment.

Willingness- Compromise, accommodate, flexible, cooperate.

Initiative- Taking the first step. This one is big for me.

"Kindness thinks ahead, then takes the first step. It doesn't sit around waiting to be promoted or coerced before getting off the couch. The kind (spouse) will be the one who greets first, smiles first, serves first, forgives first. They don't require the other to get his or her act together before showing love. When acting from kindness, you see the need, then make your move. First."

I very often hear women complaining that they shouldn't have to do x, y, or z for their husband because he never does this, that or the other, either. So Initiative seems like an important step. Kind of like the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would others do unto you) but without focusing on what you could get out of it. Because you aren't being kind or helpful or gentle for your benefit but as a way of showing your love, of acting on your commitment, of honoring your partner.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

"...love in its truest sense is not based on feelings. Rather, love determines to show thoughtful actions even when there seems to be no reward. You will never learn to love until you learn to demonstrate kindness."

Today's Dare

Another day of saying nothing negative, practicing patience. In addition, do at least one unexpected act of kindness.

Reflections

"What discoveries about love did you make today? What specifically did you do in this dare? How did you show kindness?"

Liz's End of Day

More of a challenge today. Had some stressed moments this afternoon. I felt like I got snippy but was glad that I was able to recognize it. Mentioned it to Jeff and he hadn't felt snipped at.

I've invited him to participate in this and jump in here with his own observations- and maybe his own attempts at doing the Daily Dares...

Discoveries about love? Just that it can be hard to stay patient and kind when patience is being tested by kids.

My kindness was going out to pick up lunch. Jeff is usually the one who gets sent out to pick up (and pay for) food when I don't want to cook. We agreed on bringing food in and I picked it up!